Papa John's spokesperson Peter Collins confirmed in an email to USA TODAY Sports that Manning, the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback, sold his stake in the Denver-area stores on Feb. 26, after “six successful and rewarding years” of ownership.

During the period when Manning was a Papa John's multi-unit franchisee, the NFL also had close ties with Papa John's, forming a partnership that began in 2010, according to Restaurant Business. Through their Papa John's roles, Manning and Schnatter developed a friendly relationship that continued off-camera.

Peyton Manning sold his stake in 31 Papa John's franchises late last month, just days before the chain relinquished its role as the official pizza of the NFL.

TV Commercial Spot - Papa John's Ultimate Meat Pizza - Up Your Game - Ft. Peyton Manning - YouTube.

Papa John's and the NFL have ended their sponsorship deal after the company's former CEO says anthem protests hurt sales. Papa John's is no longer the official pizza of the NFL, as the two sides have mutually agreed to end their sponsorship deal, per ESPN's Darren Rovell.

Peyton Manning is getting out of the pizza business. The former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback has sold his stake in 31 Denver-area Papa John's locations to another operator, the Louisville, Ky. -based chain confirmed Wednesday. The Denver Post first reported the sale.

John Schnatter was known as “Papa John” after starting the chain in 1984. The company is now distancing itself from the former CEO and dropping the apostrophe in its name. Schnatter responded to the renaming in a statement Tuesday evening, saying, “Try as they may, they can't have Papa Johns without Papa John.”

How many times did Peyton Manning and Eli Manning face each other? The Manning brothers have played against each other on three occasions, and in all three games Peyton Manning was victorious. The first time the pair met was in September 2006.

It Would Have Been Too Expensive to Keep Both Luck and Manning. Despite what Manning or owner Jim Irsay said, Manning was likely cut because of his $28 million roster bonus that was due March 8. Assuming the Colts draft Luck, they will probably give him a four-year, $24 million all guaranteed contract.

Peyton Manning, David Beckham star in 2022 World Cup commercial.

Peyton Manning, the biggest celebrity endorser of Papa John's pizza, is signaling a public split from the brand.

Schnatter stepped down as CEO on January 1, 2018, after controversy around his comments that the National Football League (NFL), who had a business affiliation with Papa John's, had not done enough to stop national anthem protests by NFL players, and that the protests had hurt his business.