Sunday night, in a dramatic flourish of offense against what has been a stout 49ers defense all year, Peyton Manning added another accolade to his already jaw-dropping mantle piece — most passing touchdowns of any Quarterback in the NFL, ever.

However, what makes this record even more stunning is the adversity the elder Manning had to overcome to achieve his newest milestone. In Week 1 of the 2010 NFL season, the Manning-led Colts took a trip down to NRG Stadium to play Arian Foster and the Houston Texans. Even though Manning threw for 433 yards, good for 3 touchdowns that day, the Colts fell to a 231 yard rushing effort by Arian Foster by a score of 34-24.

At first glance, it was just another NFL game; Peyton was Peyton, throwing for X amount of yards and Y amount of touchdowns. Even if he did not get the win, he was still the undisputed leader of the Colts — but, what did not show up in the statline was an injury Manning suffered from following the game.

Two days following the loss, an anonymous source from within the Colts organization reached out to staff writer Brad Wells of the Colt’s SB Nation website, StampedeBlue.com, stating that Manning was having severe neck pain and was receiving treatment by the Colt’s staff. Peyton was not listed at all on the Colt’s injury report that week.

What followed was a season of inconsistency. Manning had flashes of brilliance, as usual, but he also had a three game stretch where he threw 11 interceptions; Colts fans were beginning to scratch their heads at the organization’s claim that Manning was one-hundred percent. While he was never listed on any injury reports the entire season, Peyton would intermittently wear arm braces — the same kind worn to limit nerve pain — in various games throughout the year.

After a heartbreaking loss in the first round at the hands of the Jets, the offseason offered no respite for the league’s top passer. On May 24th 2011, the cat was let out of the bag. Manning had undergone surgery to repair a bulging disc in his spine, and was out for the entire 2011 season. On March 8th 2012, Manning was cut by the team that drafted him after 14 years of excellence, four MVP awards, and a Super Bowl title to his name.

For many, this was suspected to be end of the line for Peyton’s career. Many figured he would ride his illustrious accolades into the sunset — but Manning had other plans.

Immediately, the 2012 offseason shifted to the Peyton Manning Sweepstakes as what felt like every NFL team expressed interest in the veteran QB. In the end, a private conversation with Broncos owner John Elway convinced Manning that his new home should be in the Mile High City. From there, Manning’s history was rewritten; he went on to string together two seasons of domination, a Super Bowl appearance, and lastly, a defining moment in Peyton’s career; number 509.

So, what can we learn from one of the greatest football players of all time and his story? Well, let’s remember that at one time he was just like us.

Manning went to Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans. At the time, he was just a young kid trying to make a name for himself, hoping to make a college team. However, he entered into his sophomore season as the starter, but he was drastically undersized and underrated — until his senior season when he threw 39 TDs.

Ultimately, what made Manning successful was his tenacious approach to the game of football. His passion drove him to success, under the watchful eyes of his parents and the competitive spirit of his brothers, and today he has become a household name.

Peyton started in a small Louisiana town, draped in the veil of youthfulness we all find ourselves right now. People doubted his ability to play from high school on, even as he has set numerous records and won a Super Bowl, just as some may doubt our ability to reach our dreams for being “too big” or “unrealistic”. However, if you limit yourself to the expectations of others, then how will you ever achieve?