Broncos coach Gary Kubiak was proud of Peyton Manning for helping the team to a 24-10 victory over the Panthers at Super Bowl 50.
With the Broncos' win over the Panthers in Santa Clara on Sunday night, Manning, 39, overcame a difficult season to become the oldest quarterback in NFL history to win a championship.
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He was benched in a 29-13 defeat to the Chiefs in the regular season before missing six games with a torn plantar fascia.
Kubiak enjoyed seeing Manning fight his way back into the starting role and help claim the title, despite not throwing a touchdown pass in the championship game.
"[After the game] I just told him how proud I was of him. I could sit here all night and tell you [about] the meetings he and I went through over the course of the last 10 weeks when he was injured, working his way back — battling his way back for the football team," the head coach said.
"He comes back and leads this group at the end. I know it was just very, very special for him to be a part of. He knew he was on a good football team.
"And he just knew that [if he was] going to go out there and do his part, this team had a chance to win a championship. I'm just so proud of him and what he did to make his way back and what he meant to this group."
Kubiak also reserved praise for linebacker Von Miller, who was named MVP after recording 2.5 sacks.
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Miller's performance included a game-clinching strip-sack with just over three minutes left that led to the game's final score on a 2-yard run by C.J. Anderson.
"He was absolutely tremendous. Our defense was just special, and they have been all year long. [I am] very proud of Von," said Kubiak.
"I've known Von for a long time. He's a hell of a player, but he has become a great pro, great man and a big leader on this football team. So, [I am] just very proud of everybody, but [I am] especially proud of him.
"The guy hasn't missed a day of practice since I came here [including] off-season practice. He's an energized guy all the time. [He] plays extremely hard, has a great passion to play.
"He's a piece of work, but he loves to play football. That's the kind of guy you're looking for."