Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 38 Days with Danieal Manning

Danieal Manning leaves Chicago Bears, retires after long career

After the 2010 season, Manning was a free agent and elected to return home to the Houston Texans on a four-year, $20 million contract. In the AFC, Manning played for four seasons, mainly on defense, although he did occasionally return kickoffs. With the Texans, the Abilene Christian product logged four interceptions, 17 pass deflections, two sacks, and over 200 total tackles in 51 games and 40 starts.

As a Texan, Manning returned to Chicago in 2011 and faced the team on Sunday Night football. With a 14-2 combined record, the matchup was highly anticipated, and Manning finished the revenge game with an interception, a pass deflection, and three tackles en route to beating his former team.

Following the 2014 season, Manning retired from the NFL after a nine-year career. During his five-year stint with the Chicago Bears to start his career, the safety finished with seven interceptions, 345 total tackles, and 26 pass deflections. On special teams, Manning logged over 2,700 kick return yards and a touchdown.

In his first two years of retirement, Manning committed to his promise from almost a decade ago and returned to Abilene Christian, where he re-enrolled in the school and served as an ambassador for the football team. Manning graduated from the school and officially joined the team's football staff as an assistant coach in 2017, where he has remained with the program. In 2015, the school retired his numbered 11 jersey, although the school unofficially disallowed its use immediately following Manning's exit in 2006.

Outside of his football endeavors, Manning impacts his community with the game he loves. The former Bear holds an annual football camp for children around his hometown of Corsicana. The camp teaches football fundamentals, usually with Manning's former teammates making an appearance, and also focuses on life lessons for the players.