Photo: Stella Artois
Eli Manninghas an important new position to play onSuper Bowl Sunday: bartender.
In a campaign with Stella Artois, theformer Giants quarterbackis sending a deserving bartender named Meg toSuper Bowl 56 in Los Angeles— while Manning takes over her game-day shift at the Las Vegas bar where she works.
“When you think about the Super Bowl, it’s often about being with friends and family. But so many people are working that day and don’t get to enjoy the game,” Manning tells PEOPLE during an exclusive Zoom interview. “So for me to take someone’s place, and for Meg and a loved-one to get to be there at the stadium and enjoy that day is pretty special.”
Thetwo-time Super Bowl championis no stranger to being tested in high-pressure situations, but he admits that stepping behind the bar on one of the busiest days of the year is intimidating.
Stella Artois is including former NFL stars Dan Marino and Ryan Clark in the job-swap campaign too. The pair with also be sending other restaurant and bar workers and their guests to the big gameat Sofi Stadium, while the veteran players take over their Sunday shifts in Los Angeles and Miami.
Placing himself in new and challenging roles appears to now be habit for Manning, who entered the world of NFL broadcasting this season with older brother and fellow two-timeSuper Bowl champion, Peyton, to host ESPN2’sMonday Night Football with Peyton and Eli— more affectionately known as “Manning Cast.”
The set-up was simple: The brothers — and arotating roster of celebrities, athletesand public figures — provide commentary and analysis during the live broadcast, sharing perspectives, stories and knowledge that only these former professional quarterbacks could offer.
One thing that did pop out from the Monday night series was a surprising and recurring fashion story: quarter-zip sweaters, which the brothers often wore on the show and became a running gag on Twitter. “I guess we just have a lot of quarter-zips,” says Manning with a laugh. “It’s something that I’ve always worn. I live in the northeast, and it’s cold a lot in the mornings.”
Although he will be spending this Super Bowl working the bar in Las Vegas, Manning says his Sundays are usually dedicated to time with family and close friends at his house in New Jersey.
“I’m usually at home watching the game with my kids, and we have a few people over. It’s just a great time to enjoy it with friends and family,” says Manning, who is dad to daughters Ava, 9, Lucy, 7, Caroline, 6, and son Charlie, 2. “And that’s really what this whole Stella Artois campaign is about: to savor life together.”
“So much of your time is spent hustling, working and grinding, that you’ve got to savor those moments when you can just sit back and relax. I think Super Bowl has become one of those holidays for people, where it’s a day meant for getting together with the people you care about, having fun and enjoying that moment.”
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source: people.com
