Bryce Young joins Peyton Manning & Drew Brees after historic start to NFL season

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is making a historic start to the NFL season, joining an elite group of quarterbacks that includes Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Since the beginning of the 2026 season, Young has thrown for at least 280 yards and one passing touchdown in each of his team's first five games, placing him alongside the two greatest quarterbacks in league history since 2013.

Manning, who won the MVP award and led Denver to a 13-3 record in 2013, threw for 1,884 yards and 20 touchdowns in his first five games that season. Brees, with the New Orleans Saints, also achieved the feat in 2013, finishing the season with 5,162 passing yards and 39 touchdowns.

Young's consistent performance, including 281 yards and two touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles, 361 yards against Chicago, and 329 against Detroit, has contributed to the Carolina Panthers' 3-2 start. His 1,549 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and only two interceptions through five games set him apart from other quarterbacks in the league.

While Young has a long way to go before he can be compared to Manning's legendary campaign or Brees' 5,000-yard season, being in the same group as these two quarterbacks is a testament to his impressive start. The next challenge will be determining if he can maintain this level of production as the Panthers' season progresses.