Cooper Manning, who is best known as a TV personality and the host of “The Manning Hour” on Fox Sports, is also a successful businessman, who had a promising career as an American Football player too. However, due to an unfortunate illness, Cooper’s career as a wide receiver was cut short before he could reach the National Football League (NFL). Cooper comes from a family with a rich history and depth in gridiron, dating back to the legendary player Archie Manning.
Who is Cooper Manning really? Here are a few facts about Cooper that will answer all the questions you have about him.
Early Life and Family
Cooper was born on the 6 March 1974 to parents Archie and Olivia Manning, so is 46 years-old. Archie was a professional quarterback American Football all-star, who played for the New Orleans Saints from the early 70s until the 80s.
Cooper is Archie’s oldest son and the brother of two professional players Eli and Peyton Manning. Cooper was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, where he finished high school before moving to Mississippi to attend varsity. While at Newman High School, Cooper competed in American Football, playing as a wide receiver.
During this time, he was a brilliant prospect with a bright future, and so was accepted into the University of Mississippi, as his dad before him. However, at the age of 18, shortly before summer practice began, Cooper was experiencing numbness in his toes and fingers, and following a visit to the Mayo Clinic, Cooper was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a disease that causes narrowing of the spine and damages the nerves surrounding the spine. This caused Cooper to retire early from football, and through physio rehabilitation, he had to learn how to walk again.
Educational Background
Cooper finished his degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Mississippi, which seems to be a Manning family tradition, as Archie and both of Cooper’s brothers completed their education in the same schools.
Career
Despite not having a professional American football all-star, Cooper has nonetheless had a successful life as a businessman, a TV personality and a comedian. His career started as a partner of the energy group Scotia Howard Weil which had holdings in oil and gas.
The group also held energy conferences that attracted investors and a great number of companies to their offices found in Houston and New Orleans.
In 2012 Cooper started his career in sports journalism, when during the run-up to the Super Bowl XLVII (47th), he hosted a segment on the Dan Patrick Show – “Manning on the Street”. In 2015 Cooper became a part of the Fox NFL Kick-off crew, and also started his own show, “The Manning Hour”, that same year.
In 2016, Cooper was chosen as the senior managing director of investor relations for AJ Capital Partners. They specifically build a portfolio of hotels and guest resorts as a private real-estate firm based in Chicago, Illinois.
Hobbies, Favorite Things, and Interesting Facts
Little trivia regarding Cooper’s personal favourites are widely known, such as his likes and dislikes, and the greater part of his personal life is kept secret. However, in an emotional letter to his brother, Cooper expressed his wish that Peyton should live out his dream of being an American Football all-star.
By all accounts Peyton has done just that, and Cooper is a great supporter who aids his brother on and off the field.
Cooper had appeared as a cartoon depiction in the Simpsons. In the episode “Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou” he is seen in one of Bart’s dreams with his brothers Eli and Peyton.
Cooper, along with the rest of his family including dad Archie and mother Olivia, also appeared in an episode of “Family Guy”, In the episode, Meg refers to the Manning brothers as a family that sticks together.
Relationships
Cooper married Ellen Heidingsfelder in 1999, and has three children with her. The couple is still married and enjoys a life of luxury and wealth due to Cooper’s career as a trader and TV personality. Their daughter and eldest child May, was born in 2002. Her brothers Arch and Heid were born in two-year intervals following her introduction to the world.
Arch was named after his grandfather, and is the prospective future Manning quarterback who has a possible bright future in American football.
Physical Characteristics
- Date of Birth: 6 March 1974
- Hair Color: Brown
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.92m)
- Weight: 130lbs (59Kg)
- Shoe Size: Unknown
- Star Sign: Pisces
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
Net Worth
With a career in energy trading and as a TV host and personality, Cooper has an estimated net worth of about $15 million as of early 2020. His annual salaries as a television presenter and an energy trader aren’t disclosed.