Just minutes after Spencer Rattler was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he was sharing his appreciation for landing in the same spot where Archie Manning built his NFL legend.
That's because the Manning football family patriarch had served as a mentor for Rattler, as he has for decades and thousands of aspiring QBs through the Manning Passing Academy. But Archie took a special interest in Rattler, he said this week on WWL Radio, stemming from new Saints QB's time there as a counselor in 2022.
"I remember I was watching the game when they pulled Spencer and put Caleb Williams in and kind of felt for him," Manning said, "and I don’t know, I just kind of an interest in him."
One of the common issues brought up with Rattler are character concerns, many of which stem from his persona on a Netflix documentary shot during his high school recruitment process. Archie had never seen the documentary, but he was told about it by his grandson, Arch, now a sophomore at the University of Texas after his own high-profile recruitment process.
Listen to the full, exclusive interview with Archie Manning in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The MPA staff and counselors would have meetings regularly to go over plans, and as Manning recalled, Rattler was always early and sitting in the front row, so they got to talking.
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"I just got to know him and I just, after hearing somebody say, you know, he came out of high school and had a little attitude or something. I’m saying, what a turnaround," Manning continued. I mean, what a nice young man who is here early, full of pep, yes sir, no sir, just talked to me and I told somebody the other day when they asked me about the draft is Spencer’s got a little gleam in his eye. He kind of looks at you that way."
The pair kept in touch. Rattler said he'd regularly receive encouraging texts from Archie, including a congratulations shortly after he was picked in New Orelans.
Rattler would ultimately transfer to South Carolina where he would be coached by Shane Beamer. Having played against Frank Beamer, Archie knew the family well and was invited to visit Columbia for a charity event. That gave him the opportunity to visit with the Gamecocks' QB room for some added insight. That's where he saw what Saints coaches, teammates and fans will be hoping to see this upcoming season and beyond.
"Spencer is just, he’s a good leader, he’s a good player and I was excited to see the Saints picked him," Manning said on WWL. "I don’t know what the odds are for a fifth round pick, but I know this: He’ll come in. The coaches will like him. The other quarterbacks will like him. The players will like him and he’ll work and he’ll try to progress and he’ll give you his best shot to make your football team.”