Butch Jones Comments on Peyton Manning Coaching Rumors

Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Butch Jones thinks former quarterback Peyton Manning would be successful as a coach, but he believes success wouldn't come early.

"We talk all the time, and I think anything Peyton Manning does, he'll be successful. But coaching is a completely different animal than playing, as any great player would tell you," Jones said, per Ryan Callahan of 247Sports.

Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman reported Wednesday that he's heard the recently retired two-time Super Bowl champion has an itch to coach for his alma mater in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Jones appears to have heard the rumblings as well and said Manning is more than welcome to come back to Tennessee any time he wants.

"But again, I welcome him any time he wants to come in to Tennessee and spend time with our players," Jones said, per Callahan. "He's been great that way. He's been very willing to do that. We've been very fortunate and blessed to have him be a part of our teams, coming in and speaking to (them), and this year will be the same."

Manning retired in March, ending his NFL career after hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy over his head at Levi's Stadium as a member of the Denver Broncos.

If Manning wants to coach, it wouldn't hurt Jones to give him a small role to see what the former Tennessee quarterback thinks about the coaching life. He has an intelligent mind and developed into one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

He could be a valuable asset in terms of coaching and recruiting for the Volunteers.