Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning Lands ‘Boys’ Medium’ Dig at NFL Refs After Eli’s ‘Lifting More’ Banter 1
Monday Night Football turned into a comedy showcase this week. As the Atlanta Falcons controlled the game against the New Orleans Saints in the Week 4 matchup, the alternate broadcast booth was busy delivering its own unforgettable highlights.
Amid breaking down deep throws and reacting to dynamic scoring plays during the Falcons and Saints’ high-scoring game, Payton Manning and Eli Manning dropped a viral reference to the officiating crew that took over social media soon.
Peyton Manning and Eli Manning comment on buff-looking NFL referees
Two brothers’ hilarious exchange came late in the first quarter of the ESPN2 alternate broadcast. With just 0:44 left on the clock, the Falcons held a 14-0 lead when a penalty flag stopped the game.
Mar 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Peyton Manning watches in the first half between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats during a Midwest Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
As the camera cut to referee Shawn Hochuli standing on the field, Eli Manning noticed the official’s tight uniform. He turned to his brother and asked, “Are the refs lifting more these days?”
Peyton answered with a straight face. “It’s just tighter shirts,” he said. “Got a boys’ medium on.”
Eli Manning: “Are the refs lifting more these days?”
Peyton Manning: “It’s just tighter shirts… Got a boys’ medium on.”
https://t.co/03Xvo7cGnN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 6, 2026
A boys’ medium is a youth size made for children. Peyton’s line was a classic joke about the modern trend of tight NFL uniforms making officials look bigger than they actually are. Once the laughter settled, the brothers still had plenty of a high-scoring game left to cover.
The Falcons improved to 2-2 after dominating the game. Following their first-quarter lead, they scored in every single quarter and outscored New Orleans 14-10-7-14 across the four quarters. Meanwhile, the Saints dropped to 1-3 as they struggled to keep pace, putting up 7 points in the second quarter, 3 in the third, and 14 in the fourth.
The game was the 20th anniversary of “Domecoming.” That legendary night in 2006 was the Saints’ emotional 23-3 win over Atlanta when the Superdome reopened after Hurricane Katrina. To celebrate, former Saints coach Sean Payton and team hero Steve Gleason joined the broadcast. Cooper Manning also dropped in to round out the guest list.
The ManningCast will return on October 12 for Week 5. The brothers will be on hand to cover the Buffalo Bills visiting the Los Angeles Rams.
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