Make no mistake about it: Despite the damage that individuals such as Michael Vick, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice and, most recently, Greg Hardy have done, the NFL’s brand is still booming. There are various reasons for this — not the least of which is the gambling industry. But much of the goodwill the league has banked over the past 15-plus years can be attributed to Peyton Manning, perhaps the most recognizable player in the league, and one of the very few players who have been the faces of the brand.

So back in 2011, when Manning was dealing with a career-threatening neck injury that led to his departure from Indianapolis, where he had led the Colts to the team’s second ever Super Bowl victory, we have to assume there was some concern among the NFL’s savvier executives about the potential of losing one of the company’s rare household names. And when Manning moved on to Denver, where, as a Bronco, he has had some of the best seasons of his career, there was surely a collective sigh of relief among those same execs.

Fast forward to this season, where Manning struggled with just nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 games — making him, statistically, the worst quarterback in the league.

It’s always hard to watch a legend in decline. As sports fans, we have a tendency to delude ourselves into thinking that top athletes are immortal and will entertain us forever. And when said legend begins to transform from super-human to average-human, it can be distressing. (Watching Roy Halladay pitch during the last two years of his career provided me with some of my most painful moments as a Phillies fan.)

Manning’s decline has been extremely difficult to watch. As far as sports go, it’s one of the fastest and saddest collapses of an athlete in recent history. When he was benched last week for a guy named Brock Osweiler, it truly felt like the end of an era. Peyton Manning will be gone from the NFL soon. In fact, there’s a realistic possibility he never plays another game.

I’m a true believer that the most successful brands are the ones that not only produce a great product, but are also driven by individuals who are authentic and, more importantly, decent human beings. So while the behemoth that is the NFL may not see its bottom line affected as soon as Peyton Manning hangs up his cleats, there’s no question that his retirement will be a significant blow to the league’s brand. In a faceless league, where players play the game with helmets covering their faces, and stars can walk the streets without being noticed, Manning is a true superstar — a transcendent quarterback and an excellent person.