Will Ferrell’s appearance Monday on ManningCast trended across the internet this week. The Emmy-award-winning comedian joined Peyton Manning and Eli Manning for the return of the alternate broadcast for the Seahawks vs. Giants game. 

Ferrell didn’t disappoint, lending levity to the 24-3 Seahawks route, which opened up airtime for several trending moments including Ferrell critiquing Eli Manning on the delivery of his “Ma, the Meatloaf” line from the movie ‘Wedding Crashers’. The Manning brothers also presented a side by side, comparing the physiques of Ferrell and Seahawks wide receiver, DK Metcalf. 

Will Ferrell’s masterclass on his infamous ‘Wedding Crashers’ quote

Will Ferrell teaching @EliManning the proper way to say "MA, MEATLOAF!"

: ManningCast on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/KDWhJ0Rspe

— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2023

Ferrell also drove attention on Twitter after his hilarious attempt at play calling

Eli asks Will Ferrell for another play call

Ferrell: “East right flop. V right all the way outside. Y left, fake 396, V hinge, Z puck…and make it slippy.”

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 3, 2023

Full highlights of Ferrell’s memorable appearance are available here.

Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli (aka The ManningCast) alternate telecast debuted in 2021. The show won an EMMY award for Outstanding Live Series in its first year, the following season Peyton won an EMMY for Event Analyst for his work on The ManningCast. 

In addition to critical praise, the series has led to younger viewers watching NFL games – a top priority for both the league and ESPN. For the 2022 season, the average age for viewers of The ManningCast was five years younger than the traditional broadcast.

Past guests have included former President Barack Obama, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Jon Stewart, Condoleeza Rice, Tom Brady, David Letterman and many others. It has become a place for actors, comedians, poliicians, and athletes to talk football, tell stories, and trade barbs with the Mannings. 

The ManningCast is produced by Omaha Productions, which was founded in December 2020 by Peyton Manning with a mission to uplift and unify. In early 2022, ESPN and The Walt Disney Company announced an expanded agreement with Peyton Manning and his Omaha Productions company, a relationship that launched Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli. The extension added a fourth year (through 2024 season) for Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, featuring a 10-game annual slate of alternative productions to ESPN’s traditional Monday Night Football telecast. Additionally, the agreement called for alternative presentations (with other hosts) for the NBA, College Football, Golf, and UFC, produced by Omaha Productions in collaboration with ESPN.

The company also serves as executive producer on NFL Honors and ESPN+’s Places franchise featuring series from Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Abby Wambach, Vince Carter, David Ortiz, Ronda Rousey, P.K. Subban, Sue Bird, and John McEnroe. The company also has series at ABC, A+E Networks, NBCUniversal, and Netflix, including the popular series, Quarterback which featured Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota

The ManningCast returns next week on Monday, October 9th as the Green Bay Packers face the Las Vegas Raiders.