Denver Broncos all-time Mount Rushmore

Denver Broncos Mount Rushmore: QB John Elway

He was the first overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the then-Baltimore Colts. But Stanford University quarterback John Elway had no intentions on playing for the organization (see Bob Carter of ESPN.com) and he made that very clear from the get-go. When it was all said and done, he wound up being dealt to the Denver Broncos and he spent his entire 16-year playing career with that franchise.

These days, he serves as Denver’s general manager and executive vice president of football operations and things appear to be looking up for a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2015.

But back to the field. Elway guided Denver to the postseason 10 times in 16 seasons. He was the catalyst for the club’s three Super Bowl appearances in four years from 1986-89. But each time the club appeared in that game Elway wasn’t necessarily at his best and the team lacked the overall balance to compete with the lights of the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers.

Later in his career, the club became more dependent on the ground game thanks to new head coach Mike Shanahan.  The latter took over in 1995 and the club blossomed. The Broncos would eventually win Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII, mainly on the strength of running back Terrell Davis.

But Elway had his moments as well and was the MVP of the teams 34-19 Super Sunday win over the Atlanta Falcons in South Florida. It was the last game of his glorious career, one that saw him throw for 51,475 yards and 300 scores, run for 33 touchdowns and also make more than his share of amazing comebacks.