Inside Manning Passing Academy: 30 years, one football family

THIBODAUX, LA — Every year spent at Manning Passing Academy is like a family reunion.

That’s what University of Texas quarterback Arch Manning told reporters Friday morning at Nicholls as the camp celebrates its 30th anniversary. There were four college players when MPA started at Tulane in 1996: then-Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, Southwestern Louisiana (now UL) quarterback Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Brandon Stokely and Northeast Louisiana (now ULM) quarterback Bo Meeks.

Three of those four went on to play in the NFL, while Meeks is a successful high school football coach in north Louisiana. Arch Manning is one of the 46 college quarterbacks who are MPA counselors this year.

“I get excited to come back every year and learn more and spend time with my family and other college quarterbacks. It’s a blessing,” Arch said regarding the camp.

Peyton, Archie, Eli and Cooper Manning during a press conference at Manning Passing Academy.

Manning Passing Academy has been held at Nicholls since 2005 and has also taken place at Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond. The biggest goal of the camp isn’t to mold NFL players but to enhance the high school football experience. MPA has also provided opportunities for women in sports.

Multiple NFL starting quarterbacks have been MPA counselors while in college, from Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield to Tyler Shough and Cam Ward. Signal callers from Louisiana colleges were represented on MPA’s staff this year: Aidan Armenta (ULM), Kyle Lowe (SLU) and Ean Rodrigue (Nicholls).

Retired NFL quarterback Eli Manning described himself as an “old-timer” regarding his time at MPA. He was a camper during the first four years while at Newman. Following a decorated career at Ole Miss and winning two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, Eli’s passion as an MPA counselor still grows after 26 years.

“It’s a great reunion to be around my two brothers and my dad but also just being around these high school kids and (seeing) their passion for the game of football,” Eli said. “It’s a great reminder when I was playing to come here and see what it’s all about.

“It’s about loving the game and trying to get better and making improvements every single day. I’m happy to be here and coach them up and coach up these college kids as well and kind of help them on their journey going forward.”

Manning Passing Academy is more than just a football camp for high schoolers but an economic and tourism boost for Thibodaux and south Louisiana. The Houma Times reported Wednesday economic estimates from the camp’s impact is between $2.5 and $3.2 million annually. Nicholls continues to grow over the past several years with upgrades to John L. Guidry Stadium and a covered practice field.

Louisiana Line Camp, which celebrated its 40th anniversary, is another top event that takes place at Nicholls during the summer. Cooper Manning said it’s a tough camp as his youngest son, Heid, was an attendee while at Newman.

“It’s been a terrific partnership (with Nicholls), seeing all these unbelievable football fields,” Cooper said. “This is a pretty impressive place, seeing these many football fields in a row, just one whistle and everybody rotates. You can’t do that anywhere else. To accommodate 1,400 campers with a cafeteria and dorms and all that is just amazing. The good people of Thibodaux and Houma and this region have been great to us, and I love my time in south Louisiana.”

Arch Manning, CEO of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Todd Graves, Archie Manning, Cooper Manning, and Garrett Nussmeier work a Pre-Manning Passing Academy “Shift” at Raising Cane’s Thibodeaux, Louisiana on June 26, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Mannings are proud of the impact MPA has made across generations. The campers from Tulane are now sending their children to Nicholls. High schoolers from every corner of the United States flock down to Thibodaux each year to continue creating lifelong memories.

Former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning’s three sons have never missed a second of Manning Passing Academy, which will remain at Nicholls until at least 2028.

“We’ve done something that people enjoy,” Archie said. “I hear from friends about the anticipation of the kids before camp, about the week before and two weeks before and how excited they are, especially if it may be their first time. That makes me proud. Thanks to the help of a lot of people, our staff, bringing in the quarterbacks, my boys. We’ve put together a successful camp. So we’re very blessed, fortunate and proud.”

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Inside Manning Passing Academy: 30 years, one football family

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