Superstar quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are considered the best of their generation, so it makes sense that the New England Patriots player would be among the first persons he called to announce his retirement.

"Manning said Monday that he enjoyed talking to Brady about it all and he will miss facing Brady and (New England Patriots coach Bill) Belichick," ESPN reported. "Even though some of Manning's most difficult losses came at the hands of the Patriots, with Brady under center and Belichick on the sideline."

Meanwhile, Tom Brady said that Peyton Manning might enjoy having all that pressure off after announcing his retirement.

"The way he played football, and the way he was consumed by football, all the mental energy he had to use, and I mean every day of the year you're thinking about it-imagine what he must feel like with all that pressure off," he told Sports Illustrated's Monday Morning Quarterback.

"Think about how long he's been a great quarterback. For Peyton, the pressure's probably off for the first time in his life. Imagine how that feels."

Peyton Manning announced his retirement in an emotional, but understated, press conference on Monday.

"There's just something about 18 years; 18 is a good number, and today I retire from pro football," he said.

"I revere football, I love the game,'' the 39-year-old added. "So, you don't have to wonder if I'll miss it. Absolutely, absolutely I will ... there were players who were more talented, but there was no one who could out-prepare me.''

Peyton Manning announced his retirement on a high note after leading the Denver Broncos to its third Super Bowl title, even without a single touchdown pass.