Ranking the top 50 quarterbacks in NFL history…
8. John Elway
Drafted first overall by the Baltimore Colts in 1983 out of Stanford University, Elway refused to play for the team and was traded to the Denver Broncos, where he spent his entire 16-year career.
Elway quickly became the face of the Broncos, leading them to the playoffs in his rookie season and establishing a reputation for dramatic comebacks. He guided Denver to five Super Bowl appearances, losing the first three (XXI, XXII, XXIV) but winning back-to-back titles in XXXII and XXXIII, earning Super Bowl MVP honors in the latter with 336 passing yards and a touchdown.
His 1987 season was a breakout, throwing for 3,198 yards and 19 touchdowns while earning NFL MVP and leading the league in passing yards. Elway set numerous franchise records, including most career passing yards and touchdowns, and was the first quarterback to start in five Super Bowls.
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Over his career, Elway amassed 51,475 passing yards, 300 touchdowns and 226 interceptions across 234 games. He ranks among the all-time leaders in passing yards and touchdowns. Elway earned nine Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro nods and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Elway’s standout attributes included exceptional arm strength, allowing him to unleash powerful, accurate throws even off-balance, and remarkable mobility that extended plays and evaded pressure. He also possessed uncommon toughness, playing through injuries like a ruptured bicep tendon in his final season.
Elway was often willing to take risks that led to iconic moments like “The Drive” in the 1986 AFC Championship. His boldness fueled 47 fourth-quarter comebacks, the most in NFL history at retirement.
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Retiring after his second Super Bowl win, Elway’s legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks endures.
But who ranks ahead of Elway at No. 7 all-time?
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