| |
| line 1 |
line 1 |
| - | Denver’s “Golden Boy” John Elway is truly a living legend. As part of the landmark 1983 quarterback class that included Dan Marino and Jim Kelly, Elway was expected to achieve maximum success in the big leagues. Yet the grand prize, a Super Bowl ring, always seemed to elude him. Finally, after 3 failures and a career full of heartbreaking losses and courageous comebacks, Elway earned his first Super Bowl ring in 1997, an upset against the Green Bay Packers. The following year, Elway and the Broncos did a repeat, plowing through the NFL and manhandling the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. Afterward, while basking in the spotlight of a completed hero journey, Elway retired from pro football at the age of 38.<br /> | + | Denver's "Golden Boy" John Elway is truly a living legend. As part of the landmark 1983 quarterback class that included Dan Marino and Jim Kelly, Elway was expected to achieve maximum success in the big leagues. Yet the grand prize, a Super Bowl ring, always seemed to elude him. Finally, after 3 failures and a career full of heartbreaking losses and courageous comebacks, Elway earned his first Super Bowl ring in 1997, an upset against the Green Bay Packers. The following year, Elway and the Broncos did a repeat, plowing through the NFL and manhandling the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. Afterward, while basking in the spotlight of a completed hero journey, Elway retired from pro football at the age of 38.<br /> |
| | As a youngster, Elway was surrounded by sports. His father, Jack, was the head football coach at San Jose State. At Granada Hills High School in California, Elway was a two-sport star. As a junior, he threw for 3,039 yards and 25 touchdowns. In baseball, he hit .551 and took his team to the L.A. city championship. After fielding offers from over 60 schools and a major league baseball offer from George Steinbrenner, Elway elected to play football at Stanford. Despite numerous accolades in college, he was never able to lead the Cardinal to a bowl game. <br /> | | As a youngster, Elway was surrounded by sports. His father, Jack, was the head football coach at San Jose State. At Granada Hills High School in California, Elway was a two-sport star. As a junior, he threw for 3,039 yards and 25 touchdowns. In baseball, he hit .551 and took his team to the L.A. city championship. After fielding offers from over 60 schools and a major league baseball offer from George Steinbrenner, Elway elected to play football at Stanford. Despite numerous accolades in college, he was never able to lead the Cardinal to a bowl game. <br /> |
| | Regardless, he was taken with the first overall pick in the 1983 draft by the Indianapolis Colts, but was promptly dealt to the Broncos. In Denver, he garnered numerous awards, including nine Pro-Bowl invitations; AFC MVP in 1993 and NFL MVP in 1987; and Edge NFL Man of the Year in 1992. He holds the NFL record for most wins (140), most 3,000+ yard passing seasons (12), and 47 fourth-quarter game-winning comebacks. <br /> | | Regardless, he was taken with the first overall pick in the 1983 draft by the Indianapolis Colts, but was promptly dealt to the Broncos. In Denver, he garnered numerous awards, including nine Pro-Bowl invitations; AFC MVP in 1993 and NFL MVP in 1987; and Edge NFL Man of the Year in 1992. He holds the NFL record for most wins (140), most 3,000+ yard passing seasons (12), and 47 fourth-quarter game-winning comebacks. <br /> |