Ellen Manning on Family History, Heart Health, and Not Waiting

Ellen Manning knows heart health as a family story. Both her father and her grandfather have a history of serious cardiovascular issues. So at 57, the mother of Texas quarterback Arch Manning isn't waiting to find out whether it becomes her story too. She's getting ahead of it.

Who is Ellen Manning?

Ellen Manning is Arch Manning's mom, and, as she'll happily tell you, the reason he's fast. Long before her son was taking snaps in Austin, Ellen was a standout in track and volleyball, and she led her New Orleans high school to its first volleyball state championship. She's also quick to point out that women's college sports back then were nothing like they are now.

For a family with one of the most famous names in football, the Mannings are refreshingly normal. They're close, they tease each other, and Ellen is the one who keeps everybody grounded.

Today she's a Humann partner, and she appears alongside Humann Chief Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Davis in the TV spot "The Tailgate."

Do heart health concerns run in Ellen Manning's family?

Yes. Both Ellen's father and her grandfather have a history of serious cardiovascular health concerns. For her, that isn't a statistic. It's family.

It has also shaped how she thinks about her own health. Rather than wait and see, Ellen is taking a proactive approach and doing everything she can to stay healthy, for herself and for the people she loves.

She has good reason to. According to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.

What changed how Ellen Manning thinks about her heart?

Ellen first came to Humann through its relationship with The University of Texas. What she learned changed the way she thinks about her own body.

"Like a lot of people, I used to think cardiovascular health was strictly about the heart. Learning that it's really about your whole circulatory system — powering your energy, your brain and how your whole body feels every day — was an eye-opener," says Ellen Manning.

Since then, she has dug into the science of nitric oxide and what she can do for her heart health alongside diet and exercise. She isn't doing it alone, either. She has been able to spend time with Dr. Christopher Davis, MD, FACC, Humann's Chief Cardiologist, and learn more about the importance of cardiovascular health.

Why does Ellen Manning say people forget about mom?

Because they do. Say "the Mannings" and the conversation turns to the men: Archie, Peyton, Eli, Cooper, and now Arch. Ellen has a gentle reminder for anyone who forgets who else is in the picture. She's the one who carried and delivered that baby, all 10 and a half pounds of him.

Humann saw it the other way around. From the start, Ellen was the person Humann most wanted to work with, because her story is one that so many adults thinking about their heart health will recognize. This is the first brand partnership she has ever done, and the first time she and her son have shared the spotlight. For someone who has mostly kept her life private, that's a big step. She'll tell you she's excited, and a little nervous.

Why did Ellen Manning partner with Humann?

It started with family. Because of her father's and grandfather's history, the mission behind Humann is close to her heart.

It stuck because of the science. In an industry that, in her view, tends to be full of fluff, Ellen wanted something she could trust. Humann's science was born out of University of Texas research, and the company works with cardiologists like Dr. Davis, who stars alongside her in "The Tailgate." Like Humann, she believes America has been looking at heart health all wrong.

And it had to feel like her. When an early script had Ellen flipping burgers at a tailgate, she passed. It's a family joke that she doesn't cook, and she wasn't going to pretend otherwise on camera.

How did Humann start at The University of Texas?

It started with a molecule. The science inspiration behind Humann traces back to Nobel Laureate Dr. Ferid Murad, who shared the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries about nitric oxide in the cardiovascular system. Dr. Murad was already at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston when the prize was announced.

A nitric oxide research program at The University of Texas Health Science Center later led to Humann's founding in 2009, and Humann released its first products in 2010. Dr. Murad joined Humann's Science Advisory Board in 2020 and served until his passing in 2023.

Today Humann is the Official Cardiovascular Supplement of Texas Athletics under a multi-year partnership announced on August 25, 2025. Humann products have been part of the Texas Athletics performance nutrition program for more than a decade, a stretch in which Texas teams have won more than 25 national championships.

How do Ellen and Arch Manning talk about health?

Often, and usually about the small stuff. Arch calls his mom almost every day, sometimes just to ask what he should eat for lunch. She reminds him to take care of himself.

At home, her kids never let her live down the supplement closet. Ellen takes the teasing in stride. She loves health and wellness, and she has always wanted her kids to take care of their bodies the way she takes care of hers.

Frequently asked questions

Was Ellen Manning an athlete?

Yes. Ellen Manning was a standout in volleyball and track and field in New Orleans, and she led the Academy of the Sacred Heart to its first volleyball state championship in 1986. She credits herself for her son Arch Manning's speed.

How did Ellen Manning learn about Humann?

Ellen Manning learned about Humann through its relationship with The University of Texas, where her son Arch Manning plays quarterback.

Did Ellen Manning have a say in the Humann TV spot?

Yes. The Mannings had input on the Humann TV spot "The Tailgate." An early script had Ellen Manning flipping burgers at a tailgate, and she turned it down. It's a family joke that she doesn't cook, and it wouldn't have been genuine.

Is it ever too late to start focusing on heart health?

No. Humann Chief Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Davis, MD, FACC, says it's never too late to start paying attention to your cardiovascular health. If heart disease runs in your family, talk with your doctor about what that means for you.

"There is truly no such thing as starting too early, and it's never too late to opt in," says Dr. Christopher Davis, MD, FACC, Chief Cardiologist at Humann.