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John Elway

Hits His Stride



Better in his second year than his first, Elway began to shine in 1985, his third season. No booing could be heard as Elway broke nearly every Broncos record on the books and knocked at the door of several NFL records. He led the league with 605 pass attempts, a Bronco record and just four shy of the all-time NFL record of 609 set by Dan Fouts. Other franchise records set included pass completions (327, second in the NFL), passing yards (3891, second in the NFL), and total offense (4,414, first in the NFL). He threw twenty-two touchdowns, but also threw a career-high twenty-three interceptions, the one blemish on his otherwise incredible season.



In 1986 the Broncos repeated as the AFC champions in dramatic fashion. Locked in a tight game with the Cleveland Browns, Elway took the Broncos from their own two-yard line, in what became known as simply "The Drive," to score a game-tying touchdown with just thirty-seven seconds left on the clock. The Broncos won in overtime on a field goal, 23-20, and Elway was poised to appear in his first Super Bowl. Although he threw for 304 yards against the New York Giants, the Giants came from behind, outscoring Denver 30-20 in the second half, to defeat the Broncos, 39-20. Despite losing the Super Bowl, Elway earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

In a season shortened by a players' strike, Elway still managed to pass for over 3,000 yards in twelve games in 1987, and, in another thrilling AFC championship game, the Broncos once again defeated the Browns. Appearing in his second straight Super Bowl, this time facing the Washington Redskins, Elway threw a 55-yard touchdown pass on Denver's first play from scrimmage, setting a record for the earliest touchdown ever scored in a Super Bowl game. Unfortunately, that was the first and last of the Broncos' highlights on the day as Elway threw three interceptions and the Broncos were stomped by the Redskins, 42-10. Despite his final performance, Elway was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.

Chronology

1960 Born June 28 in Port Angeles, Washington
1979-83 Star quarterback for Stanford University
1982 Spends summer playing baseball for a New York Yankees' farm team
1983 Drafted by the Baltimore Colts and then traded to the Denver Broncos
1984 Marries wife, Janet
1997 Creates the Elway Foundation to fight child abuse
1999 Announces retirement; joins Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan in forming MVP.com
2002 Becomes co-owner, president, and chief executive officer of Arena Football League team, the Colorado Crush; separates from wife

Awards and Accomplishments

1983 Received second most votes in bid for the Heisman Memorial Trophy
1986-87, 1989, 1991, 1993-94, 1996-98 NFL Pro Bowl
1987 NFL Player of the Year
1993 American Football Conference's (AFC) Player of the Year
1998 Won Super Bowl XXXII over the Green Bay Packers; 31-24; selected as game's Most Valuable Player
1999 Won Super Bowl XXXIII over the Miami Dolphins, 38-3; inducted into Colorado Sports Hall of Fame
2000 Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

Additional topics

Famous Sports StarsFootballJohn Elway Biography - Two Sports, Joins The Broncos, Hits His Stride, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Super Bowls: 0-3