Denver Broncos Peyton Manning on Sunday became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes.

Manning hooked up with tight end Julius Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown with just under five minutes left in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals.

Manning’s second touchdown pass of the day left him seven shy of Brett Favre’s career record of 508 touchdown passes. It took Manning 244 games to reach No. 500; Favre needed 293 games.

“You don’t throw that many touchdowns without a lot of help,” Manning said last week. “I guess I think about just how grateful I am to have played with some great teammates at all positions … excellent coaching. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Ironically, Arizona head coach Bruce Arians was Manning’s quarterback coach in 1998 with Indianapolis. Also, Thomas was on the receiving end of Manning’s 51st touchdown pass last season when Manning broke Tom Brady’s single season record. Manning finished with 55 touchdown passes.

Sunday’s first TD pass was his 101st since signing with the Broncos before the 2012 season. The other 399 touchdown passes were all done as a member of the Colts.

“It’s greatness,” Broncos coach John Fox told reporters last week. “When somebody reaches that kind of statistic in their career, it’s pretty remarkable.