Cooper Manning’s football career ended before college because he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that put him at serious risk of paralysis if he kept playing contact football.

Football career and diagnosis

• As a highly regarded wide receiver, Cooper had committed to play at Ole Miss and was considered the first Manning brother on track for major football success.

• At around 18 years old, he developed numbness in his hands and fingers and weakness in his right arm, and doctors at the Mayo Clinic ultimately diagnosed spinal stenosis, forcing him to retire from football for safety reasons.

Life after football

• Cooper underwent surgery and rehabilitation, recovered function, and moved on to a business career and media work instead of pursuing football.

• He has become well known as a television personality (for example, on “The Manning Hour”) and as the father of Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, actively supporting Arch’s development and being visible at his games.