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October 7, 2025

Who Is Ellen Heidingsfelder? The Woman Behind Cooper Manning

by
Ellen Heidingsfelder

Ellen Heidingsfelder is a lawyer from New Orleans, a wife, and a mother of three. Many people know her because she is married to Cooper Manning, the older brother of Peyton and Eli Manning. But Ellen has her own story. She built a legal career, raised a close family, and chose a low-key life even while living in a famous sports family. This article shares her background, career, and family life in clear, simple English.

Quick Bio: Ellen Heidingsfelder

DetailsInformation
Full nameEllen Heidingsfelder
Known forAmerican lawyer; wife of Cooper Manning
ProfessionAttorney (admitted in Louisiana)
Birth dateDecember 20, 1968
BirthplaceNew Orleans, Louisiana
EducationB.A., University of Virginia (1991); J.D., Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (1994)
SpouseCooper Manning (married in 1999)
ChildrenMay, Arch, and Heid
Based inNew Orleans, Louisiana

Early life and education

Ellen grew up in New Orleans in a close, faith-based family. New Orleans would remain home for her adult life and legal work. After high school, she left Louisiana for college. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 1991. She then returned to New Orleans for law school, earning her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans in 1994. These dates and schools appear in several legal directories that list her professional history.

Her choice of UVA and Loyola shows a mix of broad experience and strong local ties. UVA gave her a view beyond Louisiana; Loyola connected her back to her hometown and to the legal community where she would practice. This background helps explain her steady, low-profile approach: she values family, community, and long-term roots.

Legal career in New Orleans

Right after law school, Ellen was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1994. She is also listed with admission to the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana. Public attorney profiles place her practice in New Orleans and show current membership in the Louisiana State Bar. These listings confirm that she has built a steady career as a Louisiana lawyer.

Some directories also list an office address in Uptown New Orleans and note that she practices under her married name, “Ellen Heidingsfelder Manning.” While these databases do not go deep into her case work (as many private attorneys prefer), they clearly show that Ellen’s professional identity is real and separate from the celebrity of the Manning family.

Meeting and marrying Cooper Manning

Ellen met Cooper Manning in New Orleans. They had known each other when they were younger. Later, they reconnected as adults in the early 1990s and married in 1999.

Cooper is the oldest son of NFL legend Archie Manning and the older brother of Peyton and Eli. He had to stop playing football as a young man because of spinal stenosis, but later became a TV personality and a business leader. Knowing Cooper’s path helps us understand Ellen’s life too: she and Cooper built a family that balances public sports attention with private, normal routines at home.

Family life: May, Arch, and Heid

Ellen and Cooper have three children: daughter May, and sons Arch and Heid. Multiple reputable outlets list the same names and birth order.

  • May Manning is the oldest. Reports and family posts show she attended the University of Virginia, following her mother’s path. People magazine noted her UVA student life and sorority membership; later social posts from the family celebrated her graduation.
  • Arch Manning is the middle child and now a well-known quarterback at the University of Texas. Big outlets often mention that he “gets his speed from mom,” a warm nod to Ellen’s own athletic side from her school days. Recent profiles and game coverage continue to mention Ellen as a strong, steady presence in Arch’s life.
  • Heid Manning is the youngest son. He stays more private than his brother Arch, but family features list him along with his siblings.

Ellen’s approach to parenting seems simple and real. In interviews, Cooper often praises his wife’s many talents and the balance she brings to the home. He has also credited Ellen when talking about Arch’s athletic traits. Together, Ellen and Cooper guide their kids to work hard but stay grounded.

A private person in a public sports family

Even with famous relatives, Ellen does not seek the spotlight. She keeps her work and family life mostly private and lets the players take center stage. When her family appears in media, Ellen is usually in the background, smiling and supporting. Some stories show light, human moments like when Arch’s big on-field plays led Cooper to joke that the speed “came from mom.” This fits the picture of Ellen: strong but modest, proud of her kids, and happy to let them shine.

This low-key style is also common among lawyers who serve local clients. Their value is in steady service, not self-promotion. The attorney listings that confirm Ellen’s credentials are simple and factual, no splash, just the basics. That is a good match with how she appears in public: calm, professional, and family-focused.

Community and roots

Ellen’s life shows a deep bond with New Orleans. She studied law there, built a practice there, and raised her children there. The Manning family has long ties to the city from the days when Archie played for the New Orleans Saints, and Ellen adds her own layer to that story as a lifelong local. Her career records, address listings, and bar memberships all point to one place: New Orleans.

Why Ellen’s story matters

Ellen Heidingsfelder’s story is not about fame. It is about balance. She shows how you can hold a serious job, raise a family, and stay true to your city and values. In a world where many sports families become “brands,” Ellen keeps things simple. She supports her husband and children, keeps a strong home base, and keeps her career steady. That mix of career, family, and privacy is what makes her stand out.

Conclusion

Ellen Heidingsfelder is more than just the wife of Cooper Manning. She is a strong, independent woman who has built her own successful career as a lawyer while raising a close and loving family. Her life shows that success does not always need fame or attention. She chooses to live quietly, focusing on her work, her husband, and her children.

From her education at the University of Virginia and Loyola Law School to her steady legal career in New Orleans, Ellen’s story is one of dedication and balance. She proves that it is possible to have both a meaningful career and a happy family life.

Ellen stands as a reminder that behind every well-known person, there is often someone just as remarkable, working with kindness, strength, and purpose. Her calm confidence and devotion to her family make her an inspiring figure for anyone who values love, hard work, and staying true to who you are.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) Who is Ellen Heidingsfelder?
She is a New Orleans lawyer and the wife of Cooper Manning. She is also the mother of May, Arch, and Heid Manning.

2) When did Ellen and Cooper marry?
They married in 1999, after knowing each other since they were young and reconnecting in the early 1990s.

3) Where did Ellen go to school?
She earned a B.A. from the University of Virginia (1991) and a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (1994).

4) Is Ellen really a licensed attorney?
Yes. She was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1994 and is listed with federal court admissions in Louisiana.

5) Where does Ellen live and work?
She lives and practices in New Orleans, Louisiana, according to public attorney directories.

6) Who are Ellen’s children?
She and Cooper have three children: May (the oldest), Arch (Texas Longhorns quarterback), and Heid (the youngest).

7) Did Ellen influence Arch’s sports life?
Family stories often credit Ellen with strong athletic genes and steady support; media have even joked that Arch “gets his speed from mom.”

8) Does Ellen appear often in the media?
Not very often. She keeps a low profile. Most coverage comes when outlets write about the Manning family or Arch’s college career.

9) What is special about Ellen’s career path?
She built a long, stable legal career in her hometown, staying active in Louisiana’s legal community for decades.

10) Why do people search for Ellen today?
Many readers want to know more about the person behind a famous sports family. Ellen’s steady role and quiet strength make her interesting in her own right.

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