Eli Manning Reveals How George Bush’s ‘Team Was Very Protective’ During Former President’s Appearance on ManningCast
Over five seasons, the ManningCast has turned into one of ESPN’s most unpredictable and star-studded broadcasts, but according to Eli Manning, nothing compared to the night a former U.S. president joined the show.
Speaking about this season’s guests, Manning revealed that George W. Bush’s appearance came with a level of preparation and caution unlike anything the production had ever seen.
Eli Manning Opens Up on George Bush’s Strict Rules During ManningCast Interview
In an interview with Front Office Sports, Michael McCarthy, Manning said the idea of interviewing a former president on a football broadcast was surreal, and the structure surrounding it made it even more unusual.
“There’s been so many of them. But I have to think it was former President George W. Bush,” Manning said. “The fact that I’m interviewing a president? That should not be happening. I’m not qualified to do that.”
Manning explained that Bush’s team had strict rules in place before the broadcast.
“His team was very protective. Only ask these questions. Don’t get off the script,” Manning said. “It was one of the few times where we were very much supposed to stick to the script.”
That level of oversight stood out on a show built around spontaneity. The ManningCast has become known for its relaxed, unscripted conversations, where guests discuss football, joke with Peyton and Eli, and naturally drift into various topics. Bush’s appearance, at least on paper, was supposed to be tightly controlled.
How George W. Bush Immediately Blew Up the ManningCast Script
Despite all the preparation, Manning said Bush ignored the plan almost immediately.
“Before we even asked the question, he led us all over the place,” Manning said. “We didn’t stick to the script at all.” Instead of carefully sticking to approved topics, Bush embraced the free-flowing nature of the broadcast, which is exactly what makes the ManningCast work. “He’s such a fun person to be around. He was having fun with it,” Manning said.
That is what Manning believes separates great guests from those who are forgettable. When the script disappears and the personalities emerge, the show finds its rhythm. Manning said the same thing was true with guests like Jameis Winston, Marshawn Lynch, Lainey Wilson, and Bill Murray, all of whom leaned into the looseness of the format.
The Bush appearance now stands as one of the most unique moments in the show’s history, not because of who he was, but because of how quickly he adapted to what the ManningCast is designed to be.
With ESPN set to carry its first Super Bowl in 2027 and Omaha Productions already planning a ManningCast for that game, Manning’s comments offered a reminder of what the show is chasing. Even when a former president is in the chair, the best television comes when the script gets thrown away.
