Imagine if Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, had followed Hunter S. Thompson’s advice and, with a $30 million loan from him, had chosen Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL draft. Perhaps the Colts would not have seen as much success in the playoffs, and the Super Bowl or Lucas Oil Stadium might have had a different story if Irsay had heeded Thompson’s words.
On the flip side, Leaf, who was picked by the San Diego Chargers as the second overall pick, adds another layer to this tale. Recently, Leaf shared an image of a letter on his Twitter account that he had received. The letter revealed that Thompson had contacted Irsay, stating that he would not provide the $30 million loan for Manning but would do so under one condition: the Colts must select Leaf as their franchise quarterback.
In his letter to Irsay during the 1998 draft, Thompson expressed his belief that Leaf appeared strong while Manning did not, at least not strong enough to withstand the challenges of the NFL for two years without a top-tier offensive line.
Ryan D. Leaf shared on his Twitter account, “I received this letter last week. Written by Hunter S. Thompson to @Colts Owner Jim Irsay in 1998, a month before the NFL Draft. This is unbelievable, hysterical, & ludicrous!! Take a look. @richeisen and I will discuss today on @RichEisenShow at 11:00 AM PT.”
Fortunately, Thompson’s attempt to sway Irsay in the decision between Leaf and Manning was unsuccessful. Manning, on the other hand, led the Colts to a remarkable 141-67 record, made 11 playoff appearances, secured 12 wins in eight seasons, and clinched the Super Bowl twice. In 2017, a statue of Manning was erected outside Lucas Oil Stadium. It is anticipated that when he becomes eligible in 2020, Manning will be inducted as a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.
