By Michaela Gordoni
Longhorns star quarterback Arch Manning knows how to deal with fame thanks to a little advice from Matthew McConaughey.
“He’s given me some advice. He’s been great to have in my corner,” said Manning.
McConaughey is the Longhorn’s minister of culture, a title he’s held since 2018. The actor occasionally watches the football team practice and offers advice, Southern Living reported.
When he was about 6, Manning said, “I really want to be a good football player, but I don’t want to be famous.” His younger brother, Heid, had an idea: “Just keep your helmet on all the time.” Even if he could, he couldn’t hide from his last name.
Manning comes from America’s top football family. His grandfather is Archie Manning and his uncles are Eli and Peyton Manning.
McConaughey is “way more known than I am, so it’s good anytime you get advice from him,” Manning said. “He kind of told me you still have to live your life.”
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“He says he goes to the grocery store, walks down every aisle and he lives his life. You can’t let you taking a picture or signing an autograph affect your life.”
Arch recently starred in a Raising Cane’s commercial with his dad and grandfather, but he’s never wanted fame.
“I haven’t done anything,” Manning told ESPN early this year. “I’ve started two football games. There’s a lot more guys that have done a lot more than me. But I’m trying to get there.”
“I don’t think I’ve done enough yet to be taking a lot of pictures at restaurants and signing autographs…But maybe that’ll come eventually,” he continued.
Football isn’t the biggest thing in the world to the college student.
“I think you’ve just got to remember you’re playing a game,” Manning said humbly. “Everyone’s doing it around the country. Don’t make it more than it is. You’re out here playing football.”
He added the best advice he got from his grandad isn’t about football. It’s simply, “Just to be a good guy,” he said. And from Manning’s humble attitude and approach to fame, it seems like he is one.
College football coach David Cutcliffe, who mentored Peyton and coached Eli, began working with Arch when he was 10. Cutcliffe speaks highly of him.
“He was a talented youngster, a middle schooler,” Cutcliffe said. “He’s always been strong. You could see the physical abilities.”
“But what I liked about Arch is Arch liked working. He does not have to be forced into work.”
Arch often goes to his uncles for football advice, though Eli doesn’t tell him much.
“You can’t try to be someone else. I think Arch is very comfortable in his own skin,” Eli said. “The best piece of advice I’ve ever given Arch is just try to throw it to the guys wearing the same color jersey you’re wearing. If you do that, you’ve got a chance.”
Whether or not Arch does well in football, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders, which will help him do well anywhere in life.
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