A number of influential figures from Omaha have thanked Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning for 'advertising' the city for free during matches.

Manning uses an 'Omaha' call to signal a move to his side before a play, shouting the city's name no less than 44 times during his side's playoff victory over the San Diego Chargers last Sunday.

Executive vice president for the Nebraska-based Bailey Lauerman public relations and advertising firm Doug Parrott was delighted with the exposure the city was getting, and backed Manning to lead the Broncos to victory over the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC championship game so that they could get more free advertising during the Super Bowl.

"Commercials cost money to make, and you have to come up with the idea and hire a production company to make it. It could cost $4m just for the production, and we get it for free," Parrott told the Associated Press.

"Everybody in Omaha really needs to root for Peyton to take down Tom Brady and the Patriots so we can hear 'Omaha' in the Super Bowl."

Manning is enjoying a highly successful campaign having broken the NFL records for amount of touchdown passes and yards thrown in a single season.