Football | 7/14/2015 6:02:00 PM
HOUSTON – Former ACU all-America defensive back Danieal Manning announced his retirement from the NFL after a nine-year career spent with Chicago and Houston.
The Houston Chronicle reported that Manning said he plans to earn his college degree so he can enter the coaching profession. Manning wore the No. 38 his entire career, indicative of the number of credit hours he's short of earning that degree.
Manning has spoken before of returning to ACU to earn his degree and work with the ACU football program. However, the 32-year-old Corsicana native will serve as one of the Texans' ambassadors in the first year of retirement.
Manning announced his retirement Monday afternoon on a local sports talk show, ending a career that began when he was the Bears' second-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Manning – the Bears' first pick in the draft that year after the team traded away its first-round pick – played in all 16 games as a rookie and helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI where he started at safety in the Bears' loss to Indianapolis.
After 56 starts with the Bears, Manning started 40 games with the Texans after signing a four-year, $20 million contract in July 2011. He appeared in all 16 games for the Texans last year, just one year after breaking his leg in 2013 and missing the final 10 games. After the 2013 season he was released by the Texans and signed with Cincinnati in time for the pre-season. However, the Bengals released Manning during final putdowns and he returned to Houston where he played his final season in 2014.
While in Houston, Manning helped the Texans win their first AFC South title (2012), post three winning records, make two playoff trips, and win the first two playoff games in franchise history. He finished his career by playing in 106 games (85 starts) and recorded 486 tackles (397 solo stops), 11 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and two blocked field goals.
He was also an excellent kick returner with a career average of 26.8 yards per return on 115 attempts, which is the fourth-highest kickoff return average since entering the league in 2006.
In 2008, Manning was a first-team All-Pro thanks to his efforts on special teams. He led the NFL in kickoff return average with 29.7 yards on 36 attempts.
Manning was a three-year starter at ACU (2003-05) and became the second-highest draftee in school history behind only Johnny Perkins, who was drafted with the 32nd pick of the 1977 draft by the New York Giants. Manning started all 30 games while at ACU and finished his career with 159 tackles, two sacks, 11 interceptions, 12 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks.
Manning earned 12 NCAA Division II all-America citations during his career and was a three-time first team all-region and all-Lone Star Conference selection. In August 2005 he was the only then-active ACU player named to the university's all-Century Team.
