Manning Acknowledges This Might Be His Last Season

When Peyton Manning hugged Bill Belichick at midfield after the Denver Broncos' 20-18 victory over the New England Patriots, the quarterback acknowledged to the coach that Sunday's AFC Championship Game might be the last time they match wits.

NFL Films' cameras captured audio of Manning's remarks.

"Hey, listen, this might be my last rodeo. So, it sure has been a pleasure," Manning said.

Belichick's reply wasn't caught on camera, and on Monday he told reporters that what he had said to Manning on Sunday would remain private.

"Don't have anything to share," Belichick said Monday. "I shared it with Peyton."

Sunday's game was the 20th time that Manning has faced Belichick and the Patriots and the eighth time he has won a game against the coach. Manning improved his playoff record versus Belichick to 3-2.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady also shared a moment after the game.

In an Instagram post Tuesday, Anderson wrote, "He said, 'CJ way to fight and prove everybody wrong you belong in this league and your one hell of a player I love the way you run keep climbing to be great.'"

Anderson also wrote that Brady, who was selected with the 199th pick in the 2000 draft, was an inspiration after he went undrafted out of Cal in 2013.

"Thanks Tom for telling me those words they will stick and I know a lot of people don't like you but I have MAD RESPECT," Anderson wrote.

Manning, 39, is under contract for 2016, with a salary-cap charge of $21.5 million, which is bigger than his cap figure last season when the Broncos asked Manning to take a cut. Manning has said he wouldn't make a decision about 2016 until this season is over.

O'Neil, 49ers Reach Agreement

The San Francisco 49ers have reached an agreement with Jim O'Neil to make him their defensive coordinator, a source confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

O'Neil, who was the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator the past two seasons, takes over for Eric Mangini. Mangini was among the casualties in the 49ers' offseason overhaul that included the firing of one-year head coach Jim Tomsula and the subsequent hiring of ex-Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly.

O'Neil entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2009 with the New York Jets and also was an assistant with the Buffalo Bills before joining the Browns. Cleveland ranked 27th in total defense in 2015 and 23rd in 2014.

The 49ers ranked 29th in total defense in 2015 and stumbled to a 5-11 record, their worst season since 2007.

The 49ers' defense experienced significant losses last offseason. Defensive tackle Justin Smith retired after 14 seasons, star middle linebacker Patrick Willis shockingly retired because of persistent feet problems and budding rookie linebacker Chris Borland retired after one season, citing concerns about his long-term health after a football career.