Scout team in football is a great way for teams to prepare for opposing teams while also developing the talent in the practice squad. But in some spaces, the development doesn't matter; only being great.
According to former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Peyton Manning didn't make life easy for the Broncos' starting defense. While injured with the Broncos, Manning was supposed to run the scout team offense and the opposing team’s offensive plays for the defense to practice against, but he would change the plays at practice, doing his signature audibles at the line.
Here is the clip of Phillips discussing the matter with Peyton and his brother, Eli Manning, on their ManningCast program.
Even as a @Broncos scout team QB, Peyton
was still calling audibles 😂 pic.twitter.com/2Pogynmgwt
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) October 27, 2026
For the Broncos at the time, it could have been a good and bad thing. The good, is the best quarterback of his era was preparing them for the rigors of the NFL. The bad, is he perhaps didn't always run the play Denver wanted its defense to practice defending. Nevertheless, the Broncos made two trips to the Super Bowl, winning one, with Manning under center. Guess Manning helped out after all.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Wade Phillips explains why Peyton Manning was a bad scout team QB
