The John Elway Story: From High School Prodigy to the Hall of Fame | In Their Own Words | NFL Films 

John will always be one of the greatest QB's of all time and got his rewards in the end. You know he loved the game so much when he was tearing up at the podium. God bless you John

As a kid growing up in Denver I can still remember my dad and uncles yelling "lets go johnny boy " I would alway think they were yelling for me but no they were cheering for Elway ,a great memory that will stick with me for life .thanks John for the great memories.

Imagine if Shanahan coach Broncos from the start of Elway career ... ❤️

The helicopter play will always be my favorite play ever. I screamed, I cried, I flipped a table of snacks. That 1st down was the definition of John Elway.

I'm a Niners guy through and through. But my Parents lived in Denver for a season when I was around 2 years old. They had season tickets. My mom fell in love with the Bronco's. And Elway being a Stanford guy, we always rooted for him. It warmed my heart to see Elway get back to back Super Bowls at the end of his career. Loved watching him play. Steve Young is still my all time favorite, sorry John. Raiders / Broncos games are still fun in the family house. My mom (Broncos) and my younger brother (Raiders) go at it while we are all stuffing out faces. Pure joy!

When the football gods were handing out arms, they gave Elway howitzer ! Those throws that covered nearly the length of the football were simply amazing !

I'm a Packer fan, born here. Green and Gold in my blood. We've been forever graced with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, two of the greatest to ever play. John Elway is the greatest QB that I've ever seen. No one has had the physical tools that he did. Greatest combination of arm strength, running ability, and accuracy that the game has ever seen.

Man he had a cannon even in high school. Amazing

Elway was one of those greats that you just freakin' hated throughout his career, but you knew towards the end that you wanted or needed to see him head out of the league with at least one Super Bowl ring. You rooted for him and you were happy to see him finally reach the mountain. #Respect

young john looks like luke skywalker to me.

Does anybody notice how easy and far he throws the football like god dam!

I was on Drill Team at Granada Hills High School when John Elway was our Quarterback. I had the great joy of watching every game, and it was the same thing over and over again: last couple of minutes of the game, John would make this unbelievable pass, and we would win the game, often in the last seconds. It was exhilarating. I'm so happy to see some of the old footage of those games. John was a star even in High School because they started to broadcast those High School games, if I recall correctly, on PBS. And, by the way, John was a super nice guy, as was Chris Sutton. Well mannered, very good people.

Elway was a player like no other , He carried teams by himself ... ELWAY G.O.A.T

I was born in 82 and grew up watching the Broncos. So cool that I got to watch Elway and Manning play for the team I followed and win super bowls.

He's the reason I like NFL, he is the reason I'm a Bronco fan. One of the greatest ever....!!!. And he didn't just won two Superbowls as a QB, he also had the vision to give a second chance and hire another one of the greatest, the 18, Payton Manning, who brought another Championship home. Denver Broncos great history have one man in common, the one and only, John Elway.

By the time John Elway retired he won more games as a quarterback in NFL history. With a 2 -3 Super Bowl record that is how dominant he was...

This man was a champion at heart! Much respect

John Elway is the reason why I love football so much. Elway is simply the best of all time!

Elway was a straight gunslinger ! Respect 💯💯💯💯💯💯

John Elway one of the toughest and meanest QB in history!

There's no shame in losing to the Giants in their "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" era and the 49ers in their "Joe Montana" era.

John, you were so fun, so.excting, thanks for giving us your heart out there. It's TRUE there will never be another 7. We love you.

This was my favorite QB and my second team after my Bears. Great career and those last 2 years unforgettable. Salutes for the #7 Denver Broncos, John Elway!!!

John's such a great QB and person. It's a team game 53 man rosters 11 on 11... one star can definitely help but not alone. Elway's heart and determination mix with talent and decision making was legendary.

John Elway...your the man... Thanks for the memories.. One of the true greats in football !!!!

There never was an athlete, a general manager and a person more committed to his fans in Denver than John Elway. So rare in today's NFL.

I’m a Niners fan but I watched that game wanting Elway to get one badly. One of the most exciting Super Bowls ever

he's such a good guy and he deserves so much respect

I was born a month before Elway officially retired and yet, somehow, he's forever a hero in my eyes

Best arm ever. I'm blessed to have lived through it.

Legendary the best in Broncos country ever we will love and respect you forever!

The throw at 1:10 is over 80 yards. The throw at 1:48 is around 90 yards. As a high school kid. Unreal.

The Elway Bronco years were the part of the happiest years of my life, thank you #7. Also, I clearly remember watching Elway warming up before the SF 49 SB. What I will never forget is I could see behind the face mask, John looked absolutely scared. Only time EVER I saw that look from him. The Duke Of Denver forever.

I'm from Cleveland so we hated Elway. But he was an amazing competitor and by the 90's I was routing for him over Green Bay. It took me about 10 years to get over the Drive so I was pullin for him against GB. Plus I liked Terrell Davis

What a champion John Elway was, it was an absolute pleasure to watch him play

Best arm I've ever seen, Marino may have been a better pure passer, but no one had Elway's cannon.

Elway is the greatest QB of all time!!!!

Elway had an absolute cannon for an arm. Miss seeing that.

Broncos's fans best in the NFL! Broncos for the WIN!

Life long Dallas fan , but I respected and loved mr. Elway

I remember someone telling me he could kneel on the 50 ya line and throw the ball through the uprights. Amazing

After watching the last few Broncos games, I had to go back and watch the GOAT John Elway!Here's hoping he gets us Eli, luck or Brees and then onto another SB WIN!!!

Holy Moly! The strength of Johns arm in high school. Wow!

Elway's father was head coach at San Jose State he beat John two out the three times they played against Stanford. His father researched the entire state of California for the right High school for John. Granada hills was a so cal passing power house back in the day. John was one of the greatest high school quarterbacks in history. He was badass. Full ride to Stanford witch was the quarterback university back in the day. Did not have a great record in college but would always pull some major road upsets of national powers , Oklahoma, Ohio State and usc back in the day. His last college game was the play game against CAL , When the ladrelled and pitched the ball about 20 times before cal scored a crazy touchdown the band was on the field because they thought the game was over. That play cost Stanford a bowl game appearance. Elway never played in a college bowl game, that is unbelievable.

This is when q.b.s were tough they actually got hit got back up and manned up, elway, marino, montana, favre,

Those long passes looked unreal back then, haven't seen anything like it since. Glad to have seen him live at the Mile High Stadium.

the greatest ever. I'm a Redskins fan

I'm a Cleveland Browns fan and it was hard for me to see the Denver Broncos feed us and keep us out of the Super Bowl but it was sweet victory for me when they lost. But now watching the video John Elway and seeing his life accomplishments and what he brought to the table really says a lot about his character as a man. Now that I'm 49 years old he is someone that I look up to you as a mentor. Is someone that I could point to and say if you want to play in the NFL look to a man of character like John. Classy guy. Never gave up and always kept his head held high. Sure probably behind closed doors he had times of hanging it up. But I love is perseverance. And I love his retirement speech that really moved me to tears. God bless John Elway and his family. You can tell he is humble and he doesn't have to boast because you already proved it on the field.

I miss the tradional QB's like Elway, Kelly, Marino, Moon, etc.

I was there for the whole ride. I never wanted a different QB.

One can argue endlessly about the GOAT .But if you were starting a team , how could you NOT choose Elway if he was available ? Arm, running legs, Stanford brains, guts of a warrior....Seriously .

Elways the Godfather of the AFC. Why? The AFC were mostly underdogs in the Super Bowls (besides Elway in ‘87 and Jim Kelly in ‘90) from the mid-eighties to the late 90s. And here comes a guy that gets drafted the last year the AFC won in 1983. Gets blown out and embarrassed in every 3 Super Bowls, ‘86, ‘87 and ‘89. Only to end the AFC drought of 14 years, win back to back championships and walk off to the sunset. That’s why.

I'm a raider fan but I respect John!

His personality seemed to change through his career. From a shy surfer looking kid to a gravelly voiced vocal commander. The voice change is obvious through this documentary.

Great player and I still think he's underrated. I still find the first throw you see on this video outrageously good, hardly no wind up, not good feet and still yeets it like a rocket

ELWAY WAS THE REAL DEAL

I was at the game when his number was retired. Literally sitting in the highest possible row. Boring game, getting beat at home by Miami. But when he was introduced at halftime it was an ovation like I've never seen before or since.

if you remember those match up. elway vs montana and elway vs favre we doesn't have these kind of match up in these days. legend vs legend, HOF vs HOF instant classic

lol I'm not gonna lie this had me crying watching this I'm a broncos fan

Every person commenting on this thread would take John Elway in a second

That catch 4's had at 2:58 was a thing of beauty Edit: Elways throw at 3:26 you can't even see it till it's 10 yards away from the receiver. Wow.

I love John Elway- the best QB of all time. An amazing 4th down guy who could rally like nobody else.

This man is why I am a football fan and a current quarterback. Remember growing up in the 90s and seeing this guy play football was a blessing. Will always have a place in my heart for Elway and the broncos.

I`m 62 now born in Denver. Been hard with the Broncos since Coach Red Miller days. No matter what John Elway WILL ALWAYS BE #7 from the football field. Because those were some of the very best years of my life. Those 3 SB (not so much the Dallas SB), losses still hurt, more than the Seattle SB debacle by far. Miss my boy on the field to this day. Thanks #7, you were so great out there. Thanks!

Peyton Manning May have been my inspiration for all the football I watch and play now, but John Elway was apart of the Glory days for my Denver Broncos, he and Peyton Manning are Quarterbacks I aspire to, people I love to see play.

This guy is a born leader. You can tell that whatever vocation he chose in life if it wan't football, he would have excelled.

I was born in Denver, and was raised and still am a die hard Broncos fan. So much so I was actually cheering the Broncos through all the highlights, even though knowing the out come of those games. I get chills looking back too Mr. Elway.

Raiders fan here but gotta admit Elway is a legend

Best Bronco of all time, Qb wise and GM wise

Thanks for being a Superbowl winning player and GM and I think I speak for Denver fans and the state of Colorado when I say we're lucky to have you

Never been a broncos or elway fan... But i rooted from him those two games... And this vid make a grown man tear up... Thanks john.

My favorite QB of all time, reppin #DB4L

Love the old school drop back

Damn I loved watching John Elway play for the Broncos as QB. He was an amazing QB and the game was so exciting with him in it. He would get absolutely hammered, bounce right back up to do it again. I was so happy when John got that incredible Bronco’s team back to the Super Bowl then WON. John’s second Super Bowl win was icing on the cake, a win I didn’t even need to know how good he was, but I was ecstatic for him, the Broncos, and their loyal incredible fans-the Denver Broncos aren’t even my team. Loved the video from John’s perspective; it was excellent. Thanks.

Born and Raised a Broncos Fan and Watching how John Elway was as A Quarterback really makes me Proud that he was our Quarterback and chose to Play For Denver! And when he brought in Peyton Manning Those 4 Years that Manning was in Denver were the Best I’ve Experienced as a Broncos Fan from one Legend to another. Thank You John Elway for Everything you have done for Denver we Appreciate it 3 Super Bowls and hopefully more to come!

Elway isn't the greatest qb ever but he might be the absolute greatest player ever! No player did more with less around him than elway. Elway consistently dragged sub par teams to playoffs and Superbowl's.

If hadn’t played quarterback in the NFL He’d be one heck of a pitcher in the big leagues The way he threw a football it looked like a 119 mph 4 seam fastball ⚾️

John Elway is a true Denver and American hero. Will go down as one of the greats and a great leader. Thanks for everything you've done John!

Your dad raised one humble hell of a guy John.

no need in slamming other great qbs to illustrate Elways greatness.... he is the greatest of the greats. the closest thing to a one man team as there ever was in nfl football. he brought his team to 3 superbowls in the 80"s yet hes the only hall of fame name on all those teams, like he said in the documentary "football is a team game" you put a team around him and he wins 2 in a row, there is a lot of great qbs but if I had a draft pick.... John Elway is who id start my franchise with

Kinda refreshing today to see a quarterback like Baker Mayfield who thinks he is good enough to go to a team that is bad, who drafted him and made that team better.

Miss watching john play as was one of the very best to play the game, and I miss him

"This ones for Jone" is the best word in the super bowl,and also Broncos are super bowl champions!

Is it me or how incredibly ironic it is that both Superbowl Denver Bronco Champions came from Indy thank God for Indy single handedly handing them over to us 🏆🏆🏆

This videos.. for John

Those highlights bring back alot of memories of going to games with my dad. r.i.p dad

I have been a John Elway fan since his college days. It was not easy being a Denver fan and living in New York, especially after those Super Bowl losses. As a Yankee fan many of us were well aware of the fact that Elway very well may have been a Yankee if he decided to play baseball. He wasn't kidding when he said in the video that he had a choice. He was a fantastic dual sport pro caliber athlete.....before some other guys. It's said that Elway threw so hard that he broke the fingers of several receivers and that he could throw as far as anyone that has ever thrown a football. Yeah, the Broncos lost those early Super Bowls but without Elway they would never even have gotten to them. It's great to see that he stayed with the organization up to today. He is a class act and a fabulous athlete that never made excuses and took the good with the bad. Definitely a well deserved Hall of Famer and my favorite QB of all time.

That was a pleasure to watch.

A true champion. Don't forget he later went to the Denver front office, rebuilt the team, brought in Peyton Manning and won another Super Bowl.

I'm not really into sports, but even I know that John Elway belongs in anyones "Dream Team", everyone says how well he could throw, but I haven't seen anyone mention how he knew exactly when to do so, the man deserves his legendary status because of his "Smarts!"

John, Denver will forever be grateful for all that you have done

I miss those old uniforms..

Are the 42 dislikes a collection of Baltimore & Cleveland fans ? lol

So grateful for being able to Watch John through his whole career in Denver and watch him win consecutive Super Bowls. His father Jack Elway Sr was a great guy to converse with.

Pat's fan and Brady is my number one, but man Elway is unreal. Wish I could have seen him when he was playing.

Couldn’t win until he had a complete team around him. It’s the ultimate team game.

2:55 absolutley filthy catch.

watched every Elway n Broncos game since his rookie year till 1995. Eventhough I never have taste being champion because I went back to my country. But Elway for my periods in Denver gave me experience, how to love football, especially how to love exellent quarterback

Elway I met when I was real little in the 90’s after my Dad took me to see a practice. The players were walking back signing a few autographs. I asked him to sign a football and he said, “I’ll give you two options. I can sign the ball or I can throw it back to you. Then you can say you caught a pass from an NFL QB” so he threw the ball to me, my parents missed the picture..... and I’m out an autograph lol. True story, cool memory but kinda got screwed haha.

red 98 resonates in my childhood