The intricate dance of assembling a successful NFL franchise has always been a labyrinthine endeavor, and few know this better than John Elway, former general manager of the Denver Broncos. As the director of player personnel in 2011 and later as executive vice president of football operations in 2012, Elway was entrusted with molding the Broncos into a team of champions. His efforts led to varying degrees of success and failure, with a highlight being the Super Bowl win in the 2015 season following Peyton Manning’s leadership.
The Draft Decisions
One of the most scrutinized aspects of Elway’s tenure has been his draft choices, particularly the decision to pass on quarterback Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft. Instead, Elway opted for Bradley Chubb, a promising pass rusher from NC State, with the fifth overall pick. At the time, Elway had high expectations for quarterback Case Keenum, leading him to pass on Allen. Reflecting on his decision, Elway candidly admitted, "Last year I played [golf] with him and I'm wondering, 'How long is it going to take him to realize that I passed on him and took Bradley Chubb instead?' And it took him two and a half holes. And I loved him. But it just didn't work out. He was my type. That was probably my biggest mistake of my GM days, was not taking Josh."
This admission underscores the complexities and potential regrets inherent in the role of a general manager. As it turns out, while Chubb showed initial promise, his career in Denver was marred by health issues, ultimately leading to his trade to the Miami Dolphins. On the other hand, Josh Allen has flourished with the Buffalo Bills, proving to be one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL today.
The Quarterback Carousel
Elway’s difficulty in securing a stable and elite quarterback has been a focal point of his management tenure. Prior to the Josh Allen draft decision, Elway had placed his bets on Paxton Lynch, selecting him in the first round of the 2016 draft. Unfortunately, Lynch started only four games before being released in 2018, marking another significant misjudgment in Elway’s draft history. After Manning’s retirement post-2015 season, the Broncos have cycled through an astonishing 13 different starting quarterbacks, a stat that reflects the instability and struggles at the position.
Playoff Drought
The instability at quarterback has had far-reaching consequences for the franchise. Since their triumphant Super Bowl 50 victory in the 2015 season, the Broncos have failed to make the playoffs, a drought directly tied to the carousel of quarterbacks. The inability to find a consistent leader at the most critical position has been a glaring issue, leaving fans and analysts alike to ponder the what-ifs of Elway’s tenure, especially when considering the potential impact of a player like Josh Allen.
Legacy of Mixed Results
Elway’s initial years as general manager were marked by remarkable success. His record stood at an impressive 64-26 over his first five seasons, culminating in a Super Bowl win. However, his final five seasons told a different story, with the team posting a 32-48 record. Despite these challenges, Elway's legacy in Denver remains multifaceted: his early success, his role in bringing a Super Bowl to the city, and the later struggles to field a playoff-caliber team.
After stepping away from the role following the 2020 season, Elway’s tenure has become a topic of debate and analysis. The highs of his early success and the low points of his later years paint a complex picture of a man who brought both triumph and tribulation to the storied franchise.
As the Broncos continue to find their way back to the upper echelons of the NFL, Elway’s choices, both the celebrated and the regretted, serve as reminders of the intricate and often unforgiving nature of building a professional football team. His story is a testament to the fact that the path to greatness is fraught with both glory and missteps, each contributing to the legacy left behind.