Leaving on Top: The John Elway Story

Many of us dream of riding into the sunset, Super Bowl trophy in tow, but for most of us the reality is just that, a dream.

Not if you’re John Elway.

The kid from California was an incredible multi-sport athlete. He played baseball and football. The Kansas City Royals drafted him out of high school and then a few years later, the New York Yankees selected him in the second round.

Elway’s career is the stuff you only dream up. The comeback kid, the quarterback you want under center with your team down by four and two minutes to go.

He was gutsy. He was cool. He had a rocket for an arm.

He had already won one Super Bowl.

What on Earth was he doing trying to come back at 38 and win another one?

He was being John Elway.

The Broncos, fresh off their first Super Bowl victory in team history, had little to prove. Elway himself had little to prove, his career was well spoken for and his induction to the Hall of Fame was a forgone conclusion.

Elway had been billed as too old, at the beginning of the season many wondered whether the wear and tear of the season would take its toll on the 38 year olds body.

Elway and company answered those questions with flying colors, boasting the leagues second-ranked offense.

The Bronco’s undoubtedly were the favorite to take home the trophy against the underdog Atlanta Falcons that evening, but the story had so many twists and juicy details.

Elway would become, at 38, the oldest quarterback to ever start in the Super Bowl.

This was also billed as “high drama” because former Broncos coach Dan Reeves coached the Atlanta Falcons.

Reeves had told the media earlier in the week that he was under the belief that current Broncos coach, Mike Shanahan, and Elway had conspired to have Reeves fired.

To add to it, there was growing speculation that Elway would retire at season's end.

So what did Elway do?

Elway turned in an MVP performance.

Elway played the game of his life and ultimately the last game in his Hall of Fame career on Jan. 31, 1999 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida, on the biggest stage in sports.

When the dust had settled and the battlefields cleared, Elway had amassed 338 yards by air, including an 80-yard scoring strike to Rod Smith.

He rushed for another touchdown, becoming the second player in the NFL history to rush for a touchdown in four different Super Bowls, as well as the oldest player to score a touchdown in Super Bowl history.

Elway’s performance in Super Bowl XXXIII was his last performance.

He rode off into the sunset just like we all dream of doing ourselves.