Manning talks with Boardroom about his new Red Bull deal and staying grounded while preparing for the biggest year of his life as the Texas starting QB.
Steve Sarkisian‘s Texas Longhorns are what quarterback Arch Manning calls “an early morning team.” So, if Manning is tired and needs a boost for his morning workout, he’s been known to take down a sugar-free Red Bull or two to kickstart his day. It made Red Bull’s endorsement deal offer to the 19-year-old highly touted prospect, which he and the company officially announced Thursday, all the more appealing.
Manning bonded well with the laid-back folks at Red Bull, which also endorses athletes like Texas track and field athlete Sam Hurley and Ohio State phenom wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. That combination of factors made it easy for Arch to add the company to a small but formidable list of NIL deals that includes Panini America and EA Sports for its College Football video game. Manning’s status among next year’s Heisman Trophy frontrunners and top NFL prospects, along with his marketability and family pedigree, have all led to his $6.6 million NIL valuation that tops On3’s NIL 100 chart for projected annual endorsement value.

Despite how much money Manning could make, he’s been far more selective about who he partners with when other players in his shoes would probably take more NIL deals to capitalize on that marketability.
“It’s all about the people and the relationships rather than just having a bunch of deals,” Manning told Boardroom. “It’s really just dialing in on who you want to be partnered with and who you want to represent you. I’m focused on playing football. That’s what I love to do. That’s why I’m here. I’m not here to do NIL deals, but I do like to drink a Red Bull every now and then, that’s for sure.”
Still humble and mature for someone who doesn’t turn 20 until April 27, Manning appears grounded as he approaches this most important year of his life. The way-too-early preseason poll has Texas ranked third in the country, with Arch a major Heisman contender and a contender for the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With last year’s starter Quinn Ewers moving on to the NFL, Manning will start and play every snap for the Longhorns for the first time, a role he was seemingly born to play.
“I’ve dreamed of being a college football quarterback at a big time school since I was a little kid,” he said, “but I’m not going to take that opportunity for granted. I’m going to work hard, be a good teammate, and focus on team success. And with team success comes individual accolades, so I’m just worried about getting wins.”
His family and group of advisors have helped support Manning and keep him focused, with his grandfather Archie Manning reminding young Arch to be a good person and treat people well daily. And whether that’s hanging with friends, exploring parks, lakes, and restaurants in Austin or visiting people at other schools when he’s not in the classroom as a communications and leadership major, Arch is trying to maintain balance on and off the field.
“I’m also a regular college student,” he said. “Obviously, we prep and work hard in football and that’s a priority in my life, but it’s not my identity. I still want to have friends and laugh and go to dinner and be a normal kid.”
Manning chose Texas over powerhouses like Georgia and Alabama because of its education, the city of Austin, the coaching staff, and his teammates. He acknowledged that while he could have started right away at a smaller school, or perhaps even a larger one, Arch is happy that he stuck with the Longhorns. In the last couple of years, he has learned a lot about himself, staying patient while being a good teammate each day and constantly improving without worrying too much about the future.
As the top-ranked prospect of the 2023 high school class, Manning is one of the first elite athletes not to know an era before NIL and the transfer portal. While he stayed away from the portal and stuck with Texas, he’s seen players from smaller schools have significant years only to immediately leave and get offered way more money from larger programs.
“It’s like how do they not take the opportunity to go to that bigger school? It’s a tough situation,” Manning said. “I wish it were different, but that’s just the world we’re living in right now.”
It feels longer than a week ago that Ohio State defeated Notre Dame for the CFP National Championship, which was only possible when Texas’ semifinal comeback attempt against the Buckeyes fell just short. Manning stood on the sidelines, watching as Ewers marched the Longhorns this close to the title game. Of course, everyone who wasn’t playing wanted to be out there on the field, Manning said, but he understood the situation and wanted to do whatever it took to win.

“Was it tough to see the outcome? Yeah,” Manning said. “No one likes losing, especially to end your season. It’s never fun, but it happens. Life goes on and we’re ready to attack next year.”
Young Arch has learned plenty on and off the field at Texas despite being the backup quarterback. It’s his first time living away from home, and he said he’s improved at doing the laundry and taking out the trash. Manning has made new friends, and you can sense that this feeling of self-sufficiency is important to him. He also possesses the nonchalant demeanor of someone without the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Manning is about to embark on a year that could springboard him to the promised land on and off the field, leading Texas to its first national title since 2005, the first Longhorn since Ricky Williams in 1998 to win the Heisman, and the fourth Manning to be a top-two NFL Draft pick. Yet with all the hype, expectations, distractions, and brand deals thrown his way, Arch remains grounded, focused, and determined.
“I don’t really think there’s any pressure on me all the time. We’re just playing a game,” Manning said. “I just want to be the best teammate I can be and move the ball forward and score touchdowns. Those are my goals this year. Get wins.”