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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Matt Verderame

How the Legendary 1983 QB Draft Class Changed the NFL Forever

John Elway NFL Dan Marino Jim Kelly Colts Tony Dungy Baltimore Bills Art Rooney Chuck Noll

The NFL draft had never seen a prospect like John Elway.

Then again, in 1983, very few people had ever seen the NFL draft.

Elway, the impeccable Stanford talent with the golden right arm and the hair to match, appeared certain to be headed to the Baltimore Colts, who had the No. 1 pick after going 0-8-1 the previous year.

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