Was John Elway delighted to hand the Kansas City Chiefs the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night? The answer isn’t straightforward: while he wasn’t exactly thrilled; he found himself in a position where he had no other option.

His iconic status as a former Denver Broncos player added a layer of complexity to the situation. The organizers of the Super Bowl invited Elway to present the trophy to the Chiefs after their 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. However, he has an older connection to the Chiefs’ QB.

John Elway floored by Patrick Mahomes

When the moment arrived to hand Patrick Mahomes the Lombardi Trophy, Elway did so with a smile. However, the 63-year-old later confessed that he wasn’t particularly eager to let it go. But it may not stem from the fact that the Chiefs had defeated the Broncos. It may have stemmed from the fact that Broncos “really liked” Mahomes, but passed on him during the NFL Draft 2017.

Now it may be too late to correct his mistake, but could he manage to woo Mahomes to the Broncos? Elway was also an NFL player. And Mahomes recently passed him on the NFL’s list of “All-time QB rankings”.

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While Elway is at #10, Mahomes jumped to #7, crossing even Brett Favre. But how good was Elway?

Elway’s NFL track record

John Elway, a physical marvel of his time, amassed an impressive career highlighted by an MVP award and three second-team All-Pro selections during his tenure from 1983 to 1998. However, his passing statistics, averaging 3,217 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions per year, even when adjusted for the era, fall short compared to other top quarterbacks.

Roger Staubach, often regarded as a “What if?” player due to his late start as a full-time starter at 29 years old, emerged as the undisputed best quarterback of the 1970s. Despite this delayed start, he led the league in passer rating four times, showcasing his exceptional talent and impact on the game.

Bart Starr, often celebrated as a symbol of winning in the 1960s and early Super Bowl era, boasts impressive statistics that rival his reputation. Similarly, Drew Brees, although overshadowed by quarterbacks like Brady, Manning, and Rodgers in terms of accolades, displayed remarkable consistency and longevity throughout his career, consistently ranking as a top-five quarterback during his tenure with the New Orleans Saints.

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