John Elway

John Elway married Janet Buchan in 1984, and they had four children, Jessica, Jordan, Jack, and Juliana. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2003.

Elway married Paige Green, a former Oakland Raiders cheerleader, in August 2009.

Elway excelled in both football and baseball while growing up. At Granada Hills High School in Los Angeles, he earned straight A's and passed for 3,000 yards in 12 games. His father, Jack Elway, was a college football coach and helped develop his interest in several sports.

At Stanford University, Elway became the starting quarterback during his sophomore year and earned first-team All-American recognition. In 1982, he led NCAA Division I with 24 touchdown passes, was a consensus All-American, and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He set Stanford records for touchdown passes in a game, a season, and a career, while also playing baseball for the university.

The Baltimore Colts selected Elway first overall in the 1983 NFL draft, but he refused to play for the team and threatened to pursue professional baseball instead. The Colts traded his rights to the Denver Broncos, where he spent his entire 16-year NFL career wearing jersey number 7.

Elway became known for his strong arm, rushing ability, late-game leadership, and comebacks. His 98-yard scoring drive against the Cleveland Browns in the 1986 AFC Championship Game became known as “The Drive.” He led Denver to AFC championship victories in 1986, 1987, and 1989, although the Broncos lost each of those Super Bowls.

The Broncos finally won Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 by defeating the Green Bay Packers, 31-24. Elway then contributed to a 34-19 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999. He retired from professional football in April 1999 after recording 51,475 passing yards and 300 touchdown passes, earning nine Pro Bowl selections and one NFL Most Valuable Player award.

Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility. After leaving the field, he also co-owned the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008.

He became the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations in 2011 and general manager in 2014. In that leadership period, he helped bring quarterback Peyton Manning to Denver in 2012 and assembled a defense that supported the Broncos' victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Elway stepped down as general manager after the 2020 season, later held a contractual role reporting to the general manager, and ended his affiliation with the Broncos in 2023.