Peyton Manning left the Tennessee Titans' facility shortly after 10 p.m. ET Wednesday following a meeting that lasted nearly seven hours, and fans gathered outside greeted him with cheers, hoping the four-time NFL MVP will pick their team.
Manning put his bag in Titans coach Mike Munchak's car, waved to the crowd, then hopped in the vehicle.
Titans owner Bud Adams later told KHOU-11 Sports in Houston that he had offered Manning a contract "for life" and added that he "feels great" about the team's chance of signing Manning.
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Manning traveled from North Carolina to Nashville, Tenn., earlier in the day on Adams' personal jet to meet with team officials. Mike Munchak, general manager Ruston Webster and chief operating officer Mike Reinfeldt also were aboard the plane, which landed at Nashville International -- not John C. Tune airport, as indicated on a flight plan. They returned to the team's headquarters, where the Titans made their pitch to Manning.
Several team officials apparently met with Manning throughout the day, including Tennessee's team doctor, Burton Elrod. He spent 90 minutes at the team's headquarters during Manning's visit.
Offensive line coach Bruce Matthews, a Hall of Fame lineman like Munchak, also was seen leaving the facility not long after Elrod.
It was unclear if Manning was on the team plane that returned Wednesday night to the Raleigh-Durham airport, where the Titans had picked him up earlier. Manning's friend and Duke coach David Cutcliffe lives in the area. Cutcliffe was Manning's offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and the quarterback has worked out several times over the past six weeks at the Blue Devils' facilities.
By 9:45 p.m. ET, there were approximately 40 fans gathered along the fence surrounding the facility hoping to get a glimpse of Manning.
NFL Network's Michael Lombardi reported that a key to the Titans' pitch could be their ability to offer Manning an organizational role after his playing days are over. According to Lombardi, Manning would be more likely to find such a spot with the Titans than in Denver, where John Elway holds a key management position.
The Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins also have met with Manning since the Indianapolis Colts released him last week.
Adams told WSMV-TV on Tuesday night the meeting with the four-time NFL MVP would happen Wednesday with plans for a full day together.
"I think he's ... wanting to sign up with somebody pretty quickly," Adams said by telephone from his Houston home Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
