Jim Irsay on Peyton Manning retiring as a Colt: "I want him to and I've asked him to"

The greatest player in Indianapolis Colts franchise history will be playing in his fourth Super Bowl this Sunday when the Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers, and it might be the final game of Peyton Manning's incredible career.

Whenever the quarterback does decide to hang it up, Colts owner Jim Irsay is ready for a reunion.  Many have wondered ever since Manning left the Colts whether he would retire as a member of the team, and his former owner really wants for that to happen.

Irsay talked with WISH TV's Anthony Calhoun recently and was honest about the subject.  "I want him to and I've asked him to," Irsay said regarding Manning retiring as a Colt, as Calhoun tweeted out Tuesday afternoon.

It remains to be seen whether Manning, who was released by the team in 2012 and has spent the last four seasons with the Denver Broncos, will indeed sign a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Indianapolis Colts - the franchise with which he played 14 years and had incredible success, putting them on the map.

"I'll always be a Colt," Manning said on March 7, 2012, during a press conference to announce his release.  "That will never change and Jim has certainly made me feel welcome after this to come by here anytime and I will always keep up."

The Colts have retired Manning's number 18 and his name will certainly go up in the Ring of Honor as soon as he's done playing.  His accomplishments with the Colts are quite numerous: he's the franchise's career leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, attempts, and pretty much every other significant passing record.  He led the franchise to 11 playoff appearances, eight division titles, two AFC Championships, and a Lombardi Trophy as they won Super Bowl XLI.  As Irsay said on that March day in 2012, "There will be no other Peyton Manning."

It's clear that Manning will be remembered as a Colt when it's all said and done, but it's not clear whether he will decide to retire as a member of the franchise.  Fans want it to happen and owner Jim Irsay is now on the record as wanting it to happen, so we'll have to wait and see whether Manning is on board with it as well.