Career Timeline of John Elway: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of John Elway, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
John Elway is a retired American football quarterback renowned for his 16-year career with the Denver Broncos. He led the Broncos to two Super Bowl victories as a player and later contributed to another Super Bowl win as an executive. Elway's impact on the Broncos franchise is significant, holding various front office positions, including general manager. He is one of only two individuals to be associated with all three of the Broncos' Super Bowl wins.
1979: Selected in MLB Draft
In 1979, John Elway was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
1981: Fine Season at Stanford
In 1981, John Elway ranked 7th in the NCAA with 20 touchdown passes while at Stanford, but the team finished with a 4-7 record.
1981: Drafted by the New York Yankees
In 1981, John Elway was selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft.
December 1982: Elway Refuses to Play for Colts
In December 1982, John Elway told the Colts that he did not want to play for them and threatened to join the Yankees full-time if he wasn't traded.
1982: Morton retired after the 1982 season
After Craig Morton retired after the 1982 season and Herrmann was traded, the press expected that Elway might become the starting quarterback during the 1983 season.
1982: Plays for Oneonta Yankees
In the summer of 1982, John Elway played for the Yankees' short season affiliate, the Oneonta Yankees.
1983: Elway's Debut
In 1983, John Elway debuted for the Broncos against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was later relieved by Steve DeBerg. Elway's second game was in Baltimore.
1983: First Selection in the NFL Draft
In 1983, John Elway was the first selection in the NFL draft, known as the "quarterback class of 1983". He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts and then traded to the Denver Broncos.
1983: NFL Draft and Hesitation
In 1983, during the NFL draft, John Elway was wary of playing for the Baltimore Colts and considered baseball as an option.
1984: Trade to Denver Broncos
In 1984, John Elway was traded to the Denver Broncos for Chris Hinton, Mark Herrmann, and a first-round pick in the 1984 draft.
1984: Colts Draft Elway
In 1984, the Colts drafted John Elway despite his expressed wish to not play for them, leading Elway to reiterate that he would rather play baseball.
1985: Projected Yankees starter
By 1985, the Yankees owner George Steinbrenner reportedly planned to make John Elway the Yankees' starting right fielder.
1986: Led Broncos to Super Bowl XXI
In 1986, John Elway led the Broncos to Super Bowl XXI after "The Drive" victory against the Cleveland Browns. Elway led a 98-yard drive in 5 minutes and 2 seconds to tie the game, which the Broncos eventually won in overtime. In Super Bowl XXI, Elway threw for 304 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, while also leading Denver in rushing with 27 yards and a touchdown.
January 1987: "The Drive" against Cleveland Browns
In January 1987, John Elway led a 98-yard, game-tying touchdown drive against the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Championship Game, which was later called "The Drive".
1987: NFL MVP and Super Bowl Appearance
In 1987, John Elway was selected for the Pro Bowl and won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Elway led the Broncos to Super Bowl XXII, where they lost to the Washington Redskins. During the game, Elway threw a 56-yard touchdown pass, setting a record for the fastest touchdown in Super Bowl history at the time, and also became the first quarterback to catch a pass in the Super Bowl.
1988: Broncos Record 8-8
In 1988, John Elway led the Broncos to an 8-8 record.
1989: Super Bowl XXIV Appearance
In 1989, John Elway once again led his team to the Super Bowl after winning against the Browns in the AFC championship game. However, the Broncos lost to the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV. During the game, Elway scored the only touchdown for his team on a three-yard run.
1997: First Super Bowl Win
In 1997, John Elway and the Denver Broncos won their first Super Bowl title, defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.
1997: Super Bowl XXXII Victory
In 1997, John Elway led the Broncos to Super Bowl XXXII, where they defeated the Green Bay Packers 31–24. Despite Elway completing only 11 of 22 passes and throwing one interception, the Broncos secured their first Super Bowl victory.
1998: Super Bowl XXXIII MVP
In 1998, John Elway was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII, where he threw for 336 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, while also scoring a rushing touchdown in Denver's 34–19 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
May 2, 1999: Retirement from Professional Football
On May 2, 1999, at age 38, John Elway announced his retirement from professional football. At the time of his retirement, Elway was tied for the second-most Pro Bowl selections for a quarterback with nine.
1999: Final Pro Bowl Appearance
In 1999, John Elway appeared in his final Pro Bowl game.
1999: Elway's Retirement
In 1999, at the time of his retirement, John Elway held the record for the most victories as a starting quarterback and was statistically the second-most prolific passer in NFL history.
February 2007: Elected Chairman of AFL Executive Committee
In February 2007, John Elway was elected chairman of the Arena Football League's executive committee.
August 4, 2009: Arena Football League Suspension
On August 4, 2009, the Arena Football League announced an indefinite suspension of operations, with John Elway being one of the franchise owners who voted for the suspension.
December 2010: Expressed Interest in Broncos Executive Role
In December 2010, John Elway expressed interest in working as the Broncos' top football executive after having dinner with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.
January 5, 2011: Named Broncos General Manager and Executive VP
On January 5, 2011, John Elway was named general manager and executive vice president of football operations of the Broncos, with the final say in all football matters.
2012: Assumes Role of General Manager
In 2012, John Elway assumed the role of general manager of the Broncos after Brian Xanders left the team, giving him complete control over the football side of the Broncos operation.
2012: Signed Peyton Manning
In 2012, under John Elway's management, the Broncos signed free agent quarterback Peyton Manning.
2014: Signed Defensive Players and Dismissed John Fox
In 2014, John Elway signed defensive end DeMarcus Ware, cornerback Aqib Talib, and safety T. J. Ward. After losing in the divisional playoffs, Elway dismissed head coach John Fox.
2015: Broncos Season
From 2012 to 2015, the Broncos won four division titles and two AFC Championships, reaching Super Bowl XLVIII. In the 2015 season, the team held the regular season's top offense.
2015: Hired Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips
In 2015, John Elway hired Gary Kubiak as the new head coach and brought back Wade Phillips as the team's defensive coordinator.
February 7, 2016: Won Super Bowl 50
On February 7, 2016, John Elway and the Broncos won Super Bowl 50, defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-10. This was Elway's first Super Bowl win as Executive VP/GM.
2017: Mizel Institute Award
In 2017, John Elway received the Mizel Institute Award for his philanthropic contributions to Denver and the state of Colorado.
November 2020: Tested Positive for COVID-19 and Stepped Down as GM
In November 2020, John Elway tested positive for COVID-19. Following the 2020 season, Elway announced that he would step down as general manager but continue to serve as the Broncos' president of football operations.
February 2022: Took on New Position as Outside Consultant
In February 2022, John Elway took on a new position as an outside consultant that reports directly to Paton.
April 2023: Ended Official Role with Denver Broncos
As of April 2023, John Elway had no contractual affiliation with the Denver Broncos and his official role with the club had ended.
