Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz’s Media Company Omaha Productions Gets Sizeable Investment from Patrick Whitesell

In a move poised to accelerate one of the most dynamic media companies in sports and entertainment, Patrick Whitesell, the former Executive Chairman of Endeavor, announced today that his new Silver Lake-backed platform has made its first official investment—a strategic minority stake in Omaha Productions, the innovative media venture founded by NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and longtime media executive Jamie Horowitz.

Whitesell’s investment marks a major milestone for Omaha Productions, which has seen meteoric growth since its founding in December 2020. The Los Angeles-based company, which started as a vision shared between Manning and Horowitz, has quickly become a powerhouse in sports, lifestyle, and comedy content. With Whitesell and the formidable backing of private equity firm Silver Lake, Omaha is now primed for its next chapter.

“All of us at Omaha are excited to get to work with Patrick and Egon as our new teammates to grow the business and create new opportunities for fans,” said Manning, reflecting on the milestone. “Peter Chernin and his team have been great partners over the past two years and have helped us build a strong foundation. I’m very excited for all of us to work together to continue to build Omaha.”

Whitesell’s new venture, formed with Silver Lake after his departure from Endeavor, was built to identify and scale media and entertainment companies ready for significant growth. The decision to invest in Omaha as its first deal underscores the faith Whitesell has in the company’s future. “Omaha’s strong track record of creating engaging content puts them in a strong position to capitalize on new opportunities across entertainment and sports,” he said. “Partnering with Peyton, Jamie, and the Omaha team is such a clear choice as the first investment for our new venture, given their impressive track record, the strength of the business, and commitment to applying the same energy to continuing the company’s growth.”

Silver Lake, known for its transformative investment in Endeavor back in 2012, has a history of reshaping companies in entertainment, fashion, and sports into global entities. Egon Durban, Co-CEO of Silver Lake, emphasized the cultural alignment and ambition that drew them to Omaha. “In just four years, Peyton, Jamie, and the hardworking, ambitious team at Omaha have built a dynamic business across multiple high-end content verticals,” said Durban. “They’ve executed with discipline while staying true to their core vision.”

That vision—bringing people together through authentic, uplifting content—has guided Omaha since its inception. Manning and Horowitz launched the company with a simple yet powerful mission: to make content that resonates with fans through storytelling that’s as heartwarming and humorous as it is high-quality. That strategy has paid off.

In less than half a decade, Omaha Productions has produced and sold over 30 television shows and movies across major networks and streaming platforms. Their credits include the Emmy Award-winning Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN, Netflix’s hit docuseries Quarterback (and its upcoming second season), Receiver, and the Places franchise on ESPN+ which stars sports personalities from Peyton and Eli Manning to WWE’s Stephanie McMahon.

But the company’s ambitions stretch far beyond the TV screen. Its Creative Agency has built a portfolio of branded campaigns for over 36 major companies. Its audio network, in collaboration with ESPN, features talent like Scott Van Pelt and Mina Kimes and has carved out a space for award-winning sports talk. And in a nod to its dedication to the future of sports, Omaha recently helped reimagine the NFL Pro Bowl and launched the NFL FLAG Championships, a youth football tournament aired on ESPN.

The fresh investment from Whitesell’s group will be used to grow Omaha’s core businesses, explore new content verticals, and invest in like-minded companies. A recent example is Omaha’s stake in Good Good Golf, a creator-led golf and lifestyle brand that exemplifies the kind of mission-driven, audience-first content Omaha champions.

This is not the first time Omaha has attracted outside capital. In May 2023, Peter Chernin’s North Road took a minority stake and became a strategic partner. North Road’s collaboration has resulted in a number of successful series developed alongside its production company Words + Pictures. North Road will remain an investor and partner moving forward.

“Peyton and Jamie have built an exceptional media business, grounded in Peyton’s humor, heart, and authenticity,” said Chernin. “They have coupled that with a clear, bold, and diversified strategic vision that sets Omaha Productions apart. We’re proud to be investors through North Road, and I can’t think of better partners than Patrick and Egon to join us as we continue working together to drive the company into its next phase of growth.”

The Genesis of a Dynamic Partnership

The heart of Omaha Productions is the creative and strategic synergy between Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz. Their partnership began with a shared belief: that sports broadcasting had become too formulaic and that fans were craving something more genuine, more human. Manning, widely respected for his football IQ and quick wit, found a kindred spirit in Horowitz, whose background included creating groundbreaking programming like First Take, SportsNation, and Undisputed.

Horowitz, who once served as head of programming at FS1 and ESPN, brought years of production savvy and a deep understanding of sports audiences. When he pitched the idea of launching a company centered around athlete-driven, story-rich content, Manning didn’t hesitate. The result was Omaha Productions—a name that nodded to Manning’s famous pre-snap audible and now stands for a broader creative signal: change is coming.

Their first major hit together was the now-famous “ManningCast,” a live, alternate feed of Monday Night Football that features Peyton and Eli Manning offering real-time analysis, jokes, and casual conversations with celebrity guests. It was a bold departure from traditional broadcasts, and it instantly clicked with viewers. Horowitz credits its success to a culture of creative risk-taking and strong industry support.

“The ManningCast is a credit to the partnership and support of Jimmy Pitaro and ESPN,” Horowitz said in a recent interview. “There was a willingness to try to do something different. We are lucky to have great partners that let two brothers talk football from their couches in quarterzips.”

The success of the ManningCast became the blueprint for how Omaha would approach future projects: spotlighting authenticity, humor, and humanity. Whether it’s a docuseries on quarterbacks or youth football tournaments on ESPN, the projects reflect a consistent tone and brand philosophy.

Expanding Into Documentary Storytelling

Under Horowitz’s leadership, Omaha Productions expanded into documentary storytelling. Netflix’s Quarterback, which followed NFL quarterbacks throughout a season, garnered over 21 million viewing hours in its first week. Subsequent projects like Receiver, Starting 5, and Full Court Press continued this trend, focusing on authentic storytelling that emphasizes human connections.

Omaha also produced The Buddy Way, a moving documentary tribute to football coach Buddy Teevens, known for his pioneering work in player safety and inclusive coaching practices. The project, which premiered on ESPN in January 2025, exemplifies how Horowitz combines emotional storytelling with important themes.

A People-First Leadership Philosophy

Horowitz’s career is distinguished by his focus on showcasing talent while maintaining a low personal profile. His adaptable leadership style tailors his approach to individual collaborators, fostering successful partnerships with prominent figures in sports media.

“I believe that the best leadership philosophy is to oddly have no philosophy,” Horowitz explained in an interview. “It’s more effective—though harder—to try to understand each person and then tailor your leadership to that individual.”

With Patrick Whitesell and Silver Lake now in the fold, Omaha Productions is poised to scale its creative vision and expand its influence across the entertainment industry. At its core, Horowitz says, “the company continues to be defined by clear values—bringing people together by creating uplifting and unifying content.”