Peyton Manning Joins Denver NWSL Ownership Ahead of 2026 Debut

NFL icon Peyton Manning is stepping into women’s soccer. As reported by Inside World Football, the former Denver Broncos quarterback has become a minority owner of the new NWSL franchise in Denver, set to kick off in 2026.

Manning joins an ownership group led by Rob Cohen and including Project Level from Ariel Investments, Jon-Erik Borgen, Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi, Dhiren Jhaveri, Molly Coors, and Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin. The club’s vision, according to an official statement, is to build “the most inclusive and community-rooted club in professional soccer.”

“Peyton’s legacy as a champion and a leader is second to none,” said Cohen. “His impact on Colorado sports is unmatched, and we’re incredibly proud to have him as a partner.”

Following in the footsteps of his brother Eli, a co-owner of Gotham FC, Peyton Manning becomes the latest NFL legend to invest in the NWSL. The financial terms of his stake have not been disclosed.

Denver becomes the league’s 16th franchise, paying a record $110 million expansion fee — more than double the previous high. The club is preparing to break ground on a high-performance training facility in Centennial and has unveiled plans for a downtown stadium district.

Described by ownership as the “largest investment in women’s team sports infrastructure in history,” the stadium project is expected to cost around $200 million.

As women’s sports continue to grow commercially, Denver’s NWSL project reflects the momentum. Sponsor United reports NWSL teams generated $75 million across 445 sponsorship deals this year, with deal sizes rivaling those in the WNBA, which brought in $76 million from 551 agreements in 2024.