SAN JOSE, CALIF. | The list of players who retired after winning the Super Bowl is distinguished.
John Elway, Jerome Bettis, Michael Strahan and Ray Lewis all won their final game.
Conversely, the Super Bowl has served as a springboard to greatness.
Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger all returned after winning their debuts.
Sunday’s Carolina-Denver matchup is unique in that both of the aforementioned boxes are checked.
The veteran: Denver’s Peyton Manning, 39, will be the oldest quarterback to start in the game and would surprise nobody by retiring in the offseason.
The newcomer: Carolina’s Cam Newton, 26, will surprise nobody by bringing the Panthers back to this stage in future years.