Peyton Manning explains bizarre reason why he liked 'tight helmets' during glittering NFL career

FORMER NFL star Peyton Manning has explained the real reason behind his infamous 'tight helmet' during his playing days.

The two-time Super Bowl champion, 47, was famed for finishing matches with a red mark across his forehead.

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Manning - known as The Sheriff - championed incredibly tight, form-fitting helmets throughout his near two-decade career.

But far from being detrimental to his play, the tight helmet actually made him play better - according to the man himself.

Manning revealed during the first 'Manningcast' of the 2022 NFL season why he put his lid under so much pressure.

He revealed: "I liked [the helmet] snug. I wanted it tight so I could hear the play calls coming in.

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"I wanted some pressure. I didn't want it loose — you get hit, those helmets fall off.

"I wanted it tight. Enough about my forehead!"

Manning spent fourteen seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four with the Denver Broncos before hanging up his cleats in 2016.

A Hall of Famer, he is widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

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Manning holds the NFL record for the most passing touchdowns in a season and the most TDs in a single game.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Manning could end up owning part of the Denver Broncos after their $4.65bn takeover.

Peyton - along with brother Eli - has since signed a one-year extension to continue making their popular ManningCast show until 2024.