Report: ESPN, FOX both want Peyton Manning as game analyst

Peyton Manning could be at the center of a bidding war between ESPN and FOX this offseason, as the two networks are reportedly looking to hire a marquee name as a game analyst for their respective prime-time football properties.

Both networks have Manning at the top of their lists, sources told Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

ESPN needs a replacement for Jon Gruden on Monday Night Football after he left the booth to become head coach of the Oakland Raiders, and FOX recently picked up the rights to Thursday Night Football in a multibillion-dollar deal.

Manning has reportedly been approached multiple times by different networks in regard to a TV analyst role, but he's been reluctant thus far.

One source told Marchand that ESPN is willing to "back up the truck" for Manning's services. Gruden was reportedly ESPN's highest-paid personality at more than $6.5 million per year.

It's unclear whether the network would retain Sean McDonough as the play-by-play announcer partnered with Manning.

ESPN reportedly views Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss, Charles Woodson, and Kurt Warner as fallback options. Hasselbeck and McDonough recently called the Pro Bowl as a broadcast team.