Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz’s Omaha Productions Teams Up with ESPN for Full Court Press Season 2
By Space Coast Daily // May 9, 2025
New York City — Omaha Productions, the sports media company co-founded by Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz, premiered the second season of its ESPN docuseries Full Court Press on Wednesday night, April 23, at the Hudson Square Theater in Manhattan. The red carpet event marked the latest milestone for the fast-rising studio, as it spotlighted the journeys of women’s college basketball stars Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Flau’jae Johnson (LSU), and Kiki Iriafen (USC) in the follow-up to last year’s acclaimed debut season.
The premiere was a star-studded affair, with the featured athletes making notable impressions. Flau’jae Johnson turned heads in a red cut-out dress with a high slit, complemented by silver heels. Her mother, Kia Brooks, shared moments from the evening on social media, expressing gratitude: “Thanks to Peyton Manning and ESPN for the opportunity for Flau’jae to participate in Full Court Press Season 2. We enjoyed every moment!”
Johnson also shared her excitement about meeting Manning, stating, “I ain’t gonna lie. I was fangirling over him. I was like, ‘Is this Peyton Manning?’ Thousand percent fangirling.”
Hannah Hidalgo, reflecting on her decision to remain at Notre Dame amidst the evolving landscape of college basketball, emphasized loyalty: “It’s just being loyal.”
Kiki Iriafen, fresh off her WNBA draft experience, shared her enthusiasm about the next chapter in her basketball journey, expressing that she’s “riding the high” following her final season at USC.
The series, directed by Nikki Spetseris and produced in partnership with ESPN and Words + Pictures, builds on the foundation laid by Season 1, which featured Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Kiki Rice. Clark, who was the star of Season 1 said of Manning’s role in creating the series: “Peyton was very involved. He pitched it to me, and watched and had notes on every episode.”
Full Court Press continues Omaha’s approach to athlete-centered storytelling, blending documentary intimacy with cinematic polish. The series captures not only the intensity of college basketball but also the personal, academic, and emotional arcs of its subjects.
Omaha’s Expanding Portfolio
Beyond Full Court Press, Omaha Productions has been on a streak of major announcements. In March, the company received a minority investment from Patrick Whitesell’s new Silver Lake-backed media platform. Whitesell, the former Executive Chairman of Endeavor, said in a statement: “Partnering with Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, and the Omaha team is such a clear choice as the first investment for our new venture, given their impressive track record, the strength of the business, and commitment to applying the same energy to continuing the company’s growth.”
The investment supports Omaha’s plans to expand into scripted content, a move solidified weeks later by a first-look deal with 20th Television, a division of Disney Entertainment Television. Under the agreement, Omaha, led creatively by Jamie Horowitz, will develop and executive produce a slate of scripted comedies, dramas, adult animation, and limited series for Disney platforms.
Karey Burke, President of 20th Television, praised the partnership: “Working with the incredible team at Omaha Productions while developing and filming Chad Powers has been pure joy. They have been true partners at every turn and share our commitment to creative excellence and culture-defining storytelling.”
One of the first scripted projects to come from the deal is Chad Powers, a comedy starring Glen Powell for Hulu. Based on the viral Eli’s Places sketch, the series follows a fallen college quarterback who disguises himself to join a struggling Southern football team.
Built on a Unifying Mission
Founded in December 2020, Omaha Productions was born from a shared vision between Horowitz and Manning to create content that, in Horowitz’s words, would “bring people together. Make content that uplifts and unifies. Celebrate what unites us.”
The company first gained traction with Peyton’s Places on ESPN+, before launching the groundbreaking Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, known as the ManningCast. The show has since won Sports Emmy Awards in each of its first three seasons.
Omaha’s slate now spans multiple platforms and genres, including Netflix’s Quarterback, Receiver, and Starting Five, as well as the recently announced Netflix/WWE docuseries Unreal, which explores the lives of up-and-coming wrestling talents. The company has also found success with Eli’s Places, Abby’s Places, Vince’s Places, and Rowdy’s Places, extending its popular “Places” franchise to a variety of sports. Each of these projects exemplifies Omaha’s dedication to character-driven storytelling rooted in real emotion and cultural resonance.
As the New York crowd filtered out of the Hudson Square Theater on Wednesday night, the excitement surrounding Full Court Press Season 2 was palpable—not just for the stories it tells, but for what it signals: Omaha Productions, led by Manning and Horowitz, is only just getting started.
