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When Peyton Manning retired from the Denver Broncos in 2016, many assumed he'd become a broadcaster. Instead, in typical Peyton fashion, he called an audible, Axios' Kendall Baker writes.

The intrigue: Like his playing days, he noticed something — a hole in the coverage, a chance to make a big play that could change the game.

That big play was Omaha Productions, the company he founded that has created multiple hit shows. 

Quick take: Has he changed the game? Time will tell. But Manning has paved a unique path, spurning a network broadcast gig to try to build a media empire of his own.

What he's saying: "This is a second chapter for me," Manning told Axios. "I never had a plan for what I wanted to do after I finished playing because I never had time to think about it. I was just thinking about football."

The big picture: Few people love football more than Peyton. And the beauty of him owning a media company is the freedom he has to lean all the way into that.

"Peyton's Places" is a canvas for the irreverent Manning to tell obscure, stories about the NFL.

The "Manningcast" lets him call NFL games, while being himself in ways the broadcast booth doesn’t allow.

Omaha puts him in an executive role, where he's proved to have media instincts that extend far beyond his on-camera talents.

And his popularity has propelled him to co-host the Country Music Awards on Nov. 9.

State of play: Omaha produces "Peyton's Places" and the "Manningcast," both of which have birthed franchises.

1. Peyton's Places ... What began as a way to honor the NFL's 100th season is now in Season 3, with Episode 1 of Manning's light-hearted show premiering Sunday on ESPN+.

Omaha has added "Eli's Places" (Eli Manning on college football), "Vince's Places" (Vince Carter on basketball) and "Abby's Places" (Abby Wambach on soccer), among others.

"Places" will soon expand beyond sports, Manning tells Axios, with other hosts "who have walked the walk" like Luke Bryan (country music).

2. The "Manningcast" ... Peyton says he and Eli approach their alternate "Monday Night Football" broadcast as if they're "sitting at a bar or on a couch with the guest and viewers."

And they keep it light: "The 2nd-and-1 running play that nobody really cares about, let's not analyze that," says Manning. "Let's talk to [our guest] instead. I mean, that's how I watch football with friends and family ... just sort of having conversations."

Omaha has a deal with ESPN to expand the "Manningcast" concept to other sports, and their golf version — featuring Joe Buck and Michael Collins — debuted at this year's PGA Championship.

The last word: "The best thing about Omaha is helping other people tell stories," says Manning. "I'm proud of 'Peyton's Places,' but I'm even prouder of shows like 'Abby's Places' that give other athletes a voice."

Peyton Manning's second act after retiring from Denver Broncos

"This is a second chapter for me," Peyton Manning told Axios.

Peyton Manning. Photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images

When Peyton Manning retired from the Denver Broncos in 2016, many assumed he&#x27;d become a broadcaster. Instead, in typical Peyton fashion, he called an audible, Axios&#x27; Kendall Baker writes.<ul><li>&quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Omaha" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/29543314.161423/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5keXN0YXIuY29tL3N0b3J5L3Nwb3J0cy9uZmwvY29sdHMvMjAyMi8xMC8wMi9wZXl0b24tbWFubmluZy10ZWxscy1wYXQtbWNhZmVlLWFib3V0LXRoZS1vcmlnaW4tb2Ytb21haGEvNjk1MzMzMDQwMDcvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zc3BvcnRzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/600a1412c7007c4fabd64e24B8d14970c" data-vars-content-id="28d71e03-36e6-4d94-ad98-5b93b3e02aec" data-vars-headline="Peyton Manning&#x27;s second act after retiring from Denver Broncos" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/29543314.161423/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5keXN0YXIuY29tL3N0b3J5L3Nwb3J0cy9uZmwvY29sdHMvMjAyMi8xMC8wMi9wZXl0b24tbWFubmluZy10ZWxscy1wYXQtbWNhZmVlLWFib3V0LXRoZS1vcmlnaW4tb2Ytb21haGEvNjk1MzMzMDQwMDcvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zc3BvcnRzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/600a1412c7007c4fabd64e24B8d14970c" target="_blank">Omaha</a>!&quot;</li></ul>

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The Avalanche beat the Oilers, 6-5 in overtime, on Monday night in Edmonton to complete the sweep in the Western Conference Finals and advance to their first Stanley Cup in more than 20 years.

Highlight: Artturi Lehkonen netted the OT game-winner, the second straight season he's scored the goal that sent his team to the final (Canadiens last year).

Star of the night: 23-year-old Cale Makar (one goal, four assists) became the seventh defenseman in NHL history, and first since Al MacInnis in 1994, with five points in a playoff game.

State of play: The Avalanche are the first team since the 2003 Ducks to complete two sweeps in a single postseason, and the first team since the 2012 Kings to win every road game (7-0) en route to the final.

The Avs won the cup in their previous two trips in 1996 and 2001.

Between the lines: The Connor McDavid-Nathan MacKinnon superstar matchup made this a must-watch series on paper, but it failed to live up to the hype. Colorado was simply too good.

Fun fact ... For the first time since 1979, a teammate of Jaromir Jagr's will not be participating in the Stanley Cup Final. Only four playoff teams didn't have one: Avalanche, Rangers, Lightning and Kings.

The Avalanche must be seen to be believed (ESPN)

Colorado Avalanche advance to first Stanley Cup Final since 2001

The Avalanche beat the Oilers, 6-5 in overtime, on Monday night in Edmonton to complete the sweep.

Thousands of Colorado Avalanche fans celebrate at a watch party held at Ball Arena in Denver. Photo: Gigi Sukin/Axios

The Avalanche beat the Oilers, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="6-5 in overtime" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/27970674.162328/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXNwbi5jb20vbmhsL3N0b3J5L18vaWQvMzQwNTAwNjUvY29sb3JhZG8tYXZhbGFuY2hlLXJhbGx5LWNvbXBsZXRlLXN3ZWVwLXNlY3VyZS1iZXJ0aC1lbHVzaXZlLXN0YW5sZXktY3VwLWZpbmFsP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zc3BvcnRzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/600734ba6dc3cf199c507115Bc7a97665" data-vars-content-id="71401084-a443-49d3-98f9-a84458c488a6" data-vars-headline="Colorado Avalanche advance to first Stanley Cup Final since 2001" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/27970674.162328/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXNwbi5jb20vbmhsL3N0b3J5L18vaWQvMzQwNTAwNjUvY29sb3JhZG8tYXZhbGFuY2hlLXJhbGx5LWNvbXBsZXRlLXN3ZWVwLXNlY3VyZS1iZXJ0aC1lbHVzaXZlLXN0YW5sZXktY3VwLWZpbmFsP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zc3BvcnRzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/600734ba6dc3cf199c507115Bc7a97665" target="_blank">6-5 in overtime</a>, on Monday night in Edmonton to complete the sweep in the Western Conference Finals and advance to their first Stanley Cup in more than 20 years.

Kendall Baker

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Peyton Manning's second act after retiring from Denver Broncos

Colorado Avalanche advance to first Stanley Cup Final since 2001