Peyton Manning to host ESPYs this summer

The offseason can be a truly dead time in the NFL calendar, specifically in late June and July when offseason workouts are done but training camp has not yet started.

This year during that dead period, Colts fans will at least be able to watch a very notable former Colt. ESPN announced today that Peyton Manning will host the 25th ESPY Awards.

“It's an honor to be asked to host the ESPYS, and it's even more meaningful that it's the 25th year for this incredible event," Manning said in a statement issued by ESPN. "The ESPYS have been a part of my life during my entire career. I can still remember attending my very first show back in 1998 before my rookie season in the NFL."

The show will air on Wednesday, July 12th at 8:00 p.m. ET, and it will be televised on ABC. Last year, Manning was honored for his career accomplishments with the ESPY Icon Award, and this year he’ll be hosting the show.

Given his propensity of actually being funny and the experience fans have had to see that side of him in commercials and other speeches, it should be a really good and funny performance by the former Colts quarterback.

Of course, if Colts fans don’t tune in to the ESPYs this summer to watch Manning they will still get to see him prominently in the upcoming 2017 season, as in week five the Colts will unveil the statue of Manning that will be outside Lucas Oil Stadium, will officially retire his number 18 jersey, and will induct him into their Ring of Honor. That will be a very special weekend, but if Colts fans are bored this offseason looking for something Colts-related to watch, seeing the franchise’s greatest player hosting the ESPYs will be pretty fun too.