John Elway’s final contract with the Broncos as an outside consultant ended in March, marking the conclusion of his long tenure with Denver both as a player and in numerous capacities within the team’s front office.
Elway, 62, was the President of Football Operations for the Broncos when the team made an appearance in Super Bowl XLVIII and won Super Bowl 50. Over the last few years, Elway has slowly phased out of a significant role in Denver’s front office and now, he says, he’s done for good.
“I don’t have that desire to climb another mountain again,” Elway told Woody Paige of The Denver Gazette. “It was time to step aside and let all the new people take over. I’ve been with the Broncos for 28 of the past 40 years since I came to Denver, and I can’t think of a better ownership that (the late) Pat [Bowlen] could have as his successor. The Walton-Penner ownership group wants to win, intends to win and has the wherewithal to win. I’ll always be a Bronco and a fan, and I told Greg Penner I’m here if they call on me for anything.”
Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 after leading the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles as the franchise quarterback. He then won another as an executive to cement his legacy in his post-playing career.