My friend, have you ever wondered why Cooper Manning, the younger brother of NFL superstars Peyton and Eli Manning, never ended up playing in the NFL? I have thought about it a lot and as far as I can tell, Cooper was dealt a terrible hand.
Cooper was born with a rare congenital spinal condition called spinal stenosis. According to his doctors, the condition was discovered before he was even old enough to take part in organized sports and required multiple back operations – first at age 12 and later at age 14. This understandably put a stop to Cooper’s athletic pursuits and dashed all hope of a professional career.
Still, throughout his life, Cooper’s confidence never wavered. He went on to earn degrees from Ole Miss and Tulane Universities, and I’m told that all of his hard work paid off with a successful job in the energy industry today. But with his brothers Peyton and Eli each enjoying their own Pro Bowl-filled careers, I find it heartbreaking that Cooper wasn’t able to fulfill his own dreams.
What’s more, though he never stepped onto a professional field, Cooper was always a proud and visible supporter of Peyton and Eli. I don’t know if I could personally bring myself to cheer on my brothers if I was prevented from joining them on the field. But Cooper? Nothing less than enthusiastic support, all throughout.
I believe the Manning family has been blessed with an incredible talent that was passed down from father Archie to sons Cooper, Peyton, and, of course, Eli. Archie’s inspiring story of perseverance, a father of little money, wholesale jerseys from china rising to become an NFL quarterback, is the stuff of legend.
And that’s why Cooper’s story is so tragic because if it wasn’t for that one genetic condition, he would have been blessed with that same talent. Imagine how different his life – and the landscape of the NFL – could have been had Cooper been able to play. We may never know.
I admire Cooper’s resiliency, though. No matter what, he pushed forward and maintained a positive attitude, having grown up in the shadow of his athletic brothers. Although he wasn’t physically able to compete in the NFL, Cooper wound up just as successful, professionally speaking.
The thing that I find so inspiring about Cooper is that despite the fact that he couldn’t participate in football, he never let it ruin his life. And that’s why I can’t help but feel like maybe, just maybe, Cooper’s heartache worked out for the greater good.
While the ending to Cooper’s story is one of sadness, it is laced with a tiny bit of sunshine. Even though he never had the chance to play football professionally, he still got to watch his brothers compete at the top level, wholesale jerseys while also being able to focus on his own non-athletic goals. It’s a great example of a person having to make the best out of an unfortunate situation.
Cooper’s situation was totally out of his control – as is the case with so many of life’s tragedies. That’s why I’ve always admired that he put his head down and focused on his future. Even though he didn’t get to play in the NFL, like his brothers, he still made something of himself.
Although Cooper’s dream of playing in the NFL was never realized, he never let that stop him. I respect him for being open to any new opportunities, for realizing his potential, and for not sulking and giving up. He used the adversity to turn into his own source of strength.
At times, I imagine Cooper must have felt like a failure, knowing that his brothers were so successful in the NFL. But he kept going despite any setbacks and found success and fulfillment in other areas and that’s something to be celebrated. Cooper is a powerful role model of perseverance in the face of adversity that everyone can appreciate.
That’s why I’m so proud of Cooper, and why we should all be inspired by his incredible story.