WATCH: Peyton Manning tells hilarious story behind legendary ‘United Way’ SNL sketch

When football fans think of Saturday Night Live, Peyton Manning’s “United Way” appearance is one of the first that comes to mind.

Manning’s appearance happened in March of 2007, and it featured pegging kids with footballs, teaching them to break into cars and talking about “killing snitches.”

Manning’s dry humor helped make that entire episode — not just the “United Way” skit — a major hit.

Here’s a replay of the skit to refresh your memory:

Colts’ QBs past and present gathered at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis Wednesday, and Manning was the keynote speaker. Manning touched on a number of topics — mostly about the Colts, but he had to describe the behind-the-scenes story of the SNL skit.

“We did this one skit that people ask me a lot about. We did this spoof for the United Way, and we were throwing footballs at these kids, which doesn’t sound very good. Those footballs were Nerf footballs, a Nerf cutout, and were light as a feather, and they put in these sound effects where it looks like you’re knocking these kids out. I remember the director said, ‘Peyton, you’re a charitable guy, this is why it’s going to be funny. And it’s only going to work if you’re all in, and you whack these kids right in the head.’ And I kept saying my mother is going to be so disappointed.

“These kids were all child actors, and their parents were out there watching the whole time, and it was all very awkward and uncomfortable. So I finally told the director, ‘I can’t do it, I can’t do it. I’ll go up to the edge, but this feels over the edge. I’m not comfortable.’ And he said no problem we don’t have to do it, we don’t wanna make you do something out of your comfort zone. And right then, I cannot make this up, one of the parents of the child actors runs out onto the set and tells the director, ‘I want him to hit my kid in the face!’ I said, ‘I will do it. I will knock your kid out.'”

You can watch Manning’s explanation below:

Peyton Manning re-told the story of the United Way SNL skit at the Colts’ Kickoff Luncheon today. (via @colts) pic.twitter.com/vZb2zWoYYA

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 30, 2018

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.