Assembling the pieces of an NFL franchise’s success or failure is a complex and often scrutinized endeavor. Few executives understand this better than John Elway, who served as the general manager for the Denver Broncos.
Elway's tenure with the Broncos, marked by significant peaks and valleys, includes the notable decision of passing 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 that time, Elway had high hopes pinned on newly acquired quarterback Case Keenum.
Elway's quarterback draft choices were a mixed bag. Two years before the 2018 draft, he selected Paxton Lynch in 2016, a decision that had its own set of complications. Lynch started only four games before his eventual release in 2018, leaving a glaring hole at the quarterback position that the team struggled to fill.
Reflecting on his decision years later, Elway lamented his choice, acknowledging, "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 candid admission underscores the high-stakes nature of NFL drafting and how pivotal decisions can reverberate through a franchise's fortunes.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, Bradley Chubb's tenure was marred by persistent health issues, leading to his eventual trade to the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, Josh Allen has flourished with the Buffalo Bills, becoming one of the league's elite quarterbacks and cementing his status as a franchise cornerstone in Buffalo.
Since the retirement of Peyton Manning following the Broncos’ Super Bowl victory in the 2015 season, Denver has cycled through a staggering 13 different starting quarterbacks. This instability at the most critical position has undoubtedly contributed to the team’s inability to make the playoffs since their Super Bowl triumph.
Elway rejoined the Broncos in 2011 as the director of player personnel and was named executive vice president of football operations the following year. His impact was initially remarkable; the Broncos posted a 64-26 record in his first five seasons as general manager, highlighted by their Super Bowl win in the 2015 season. However, the latter part of Elway's tenure saw a significant downturn, with the team compiling a 32-48 record in his final five seasons.
Elway stepped away from his role following the 2020 season, leaving behind a legacy of early success but also marked by the critical decision to pass on a player who could have been the solution to the team's prolonged quarterback woes. The story of John Elway's time in Denver remains a testament to the razor-thin margins for error in the NFL, where the line between glory and regret is often determined by the draft-room decisions.
The rollercoaster of Elway’s tenure offers a profound lesson in the relentless unpredictability of the NFL. While his early years were gilded with achievements, the latter period underscores the reality that even venerable legends like Elway are not immune to the challenges and pitfalls of team management and talent evaluation.