Best and worst moments from Peyton Manning during Paris Olympics opening ceremony

PARIS — Peyton Manning made remarkably seamless career transitions from NFL quarterback to advertising pitchman to football broadcaster. But the two-time Super Bowl champion expanded his repertoire with a far trickier challenge on Friday night, in serving as co-host of NBC's coverage of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

The results were mixed.

Manning co-hosted the broadcast with Mike Tirico and Kelly Clarkson. The three announced their roles live on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in March, although NBC had secured the trio before then; Tirico began trying to persuade Manning to co-host more than a year ago. But for Manning, despite plenty of time to prepare, this wasn't as easy as riffing through a clever ad for Nationwide, and was a far bigger stage than hosting the Country Music Awards.

NBC ultimately got what it should've expected: the widespread appeal of a household name in American sport, but one who lacked the intrinsic understanding of the Olympics that a veteran of the Games could have provided. On the former count, Manning's presence guaranteed more audience; on the latter, NBC signed up for something that no amount of preparation by Manning could've changed. The best and worst of Manning's performance:

Peyton Manning's best moments from Paris Olympics opening ceremony

1) Manning relayed some solid insight into the opening ceremony experience of U.S. water polo captain Maggie Steffens, who honored the recent death of a family member of her husband, Bobby, by dropping flowers into the river Seine as the boat carrying Team USA athletes made its way through the ceremony.

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"Maggie texted me earlier today. She told me this is a very emotional evening for her. Two days ago there was an unexpected death in her husband Bobby's family," Manning said. "She wanted to drop flowers in the river tonight as a tribute. She is grateful to have the support of her teammates here in Paris. She hopes her husband's family is watching this and they are in her prayers."

2) On U.S. heptathlete Anna Hall: "This past January she had knee surgery, but she has an incredible team around her. That includes her mentor, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Anna told me Jackie's support has meant the world to her on her path to making her first Olympic team. (She) has a chance to be the first heptathlete gold medal winner since her mentor. (I'm) a big fan of hers."

3) Manning knew his role as wingman to Tirico. He interjected at moments when a second voice was needed without talking over NBC's eight-year veteran. For all the heat Manning drew from hardcore Olympics fans on social media, he at least wasn't overbearing. His tone was loose and fun, a straight duplication of the jokey mood that underpins his wildly popular Manningcast of ESPN's "Monday Night Football." That can be endearing, although too many of his best wisecracks had football ties, not Olympic ties.

Peyton Manning's worst moments from Paris Olympics opening ceremony

1) At one point, Manning donned a play-call wristband over his jacket, apparently loaded with Olympic intel written on it, similar to what pro quarterbacks use in NFL games. He joked that he had info on "all 200 countries, all 10,000 athletes." Amid fairly heavy criticism of Manning's overall contribution, this moment actually drew some of his highest praise, but it fell flat here. Whether viewers took it seriously or not, it came off as a cheap prop.

2) Manning should definitely leave the French language to the French, but he gave it a shot.

"I'm from New Orleans, or should I say, La Neuvelle Orleans, and our saying down there is "laissez le bon temps rouler", or "Let the good times roll," Manning said of the opening ceremony. "It's a party. I told you I took a little French in high school. I just wanted to get that in."

Jump in any time, Kelly.

Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.