Colts to build Peyton Manning statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium, retire No. 18

Peyton Manning retired as a member of the Denver Broncos, but he will always be remembered as a Colt by some.

The future Hall of Famer was back in Indianapolis on Friday to say goodbye to the Colts, with whom he spent the first 14 years of his NFL career and won Super Bowl XLI.

"It seems like a short four years ago we were up here on a difficult day," Colts owner Jim Irsay said. "I'm happy to report that as we temporarily went different directions, we both enjoyed a lot of success on the field. It was always strange watching 18 out there without the horseshoe on his helmet, not always easy. I think I speak for all Colts fans when we feel like he's ours."

The Colts will construct a statue of Manning, which will sit outside Lucas Oil Stadium.

"A place for people to leave cans of Budweiser (as a tribute)," Irsay joked, referring to Manning's post-Super Bowl 50 plan of drinking "a lot of Budweiser."

Manning will also have his jersey retired, making him the ninth player to receive the honor from the Colts.

"No future Indianapolis Colt will ever wear No. 18," an emotional Irsay said.