For the last month, every NFL insider, reporter and Woody Paige has been trying to get the scoop: When will Peyton Manning retire?

Like the carrot in front of the horse, the truth has been just out of reach.

Paige reported that Manning would be announcing his retirement last week. Jason Cole reported that not only was Manning interested in returning, but that he would even be interested in returning as Brock Osweiler‘s backup. And every other Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport of the world would make sure to throw their two-cents into the ring too, quoting sources who questioned whether the scrambled eggs Manning had for breakfast were a sign that he was going to play for the Los Angeles Rams or Houston Texans.

All of it, ill-informed.

But through everything, there was one “insider” who remained quiet. When all was said and done, though, it was him, Chris Mortensen (A.K.A. @mortreport), who got the big catch.

Mortensen, who has been one of the leaders in breaking-news reporting for the last two decades, has been away from his seat at ESPN next to Schefter since mid-January, when he was diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer.

Since then, he’s remained away from the public eye; his normally vibrant Twitter account empty.

It is no accident that Mortensen ended up with football’s biggest story. Manning made sure of that.

For a Hall of Fame quarterback who’s accomplished everything the game would allow, Manning was gifted the opportunity to ride off into the sunset, Lombardi Trophy in hand. No one should be surprised, though, that he took his time, planned it correctly, and left the league as classy as he came in.

Thank you Peyton Manning and congrats to Chris Mortensen!