The Denver Broncos are going to be getting a new voice in their front office. This is after Hall of Famer John Elway has been making all the football decisions for the franchise in the past 10 years.
The Broncos confirmed on Tuesday that the organization intends to hire a general manager ahead of the 2021 NFL season. The new GM will take on most of Elway’s duties, including roster moves, draft choices, and free agency dealings.
Elway will assume a new role moving forward and will act as the Broncos’ President of football operations.
“I knew there was going to be a time at some point in time, this was a position I would, hopefully, move to,” said Elway during a press conference. “It gave me the opportunity to move up and I think it’s the right time for me.”
Elway will be at the front of the GM search with CEO Joe Ellis, director of player personnel Matt Russell, and head coach Vic Fangio. Several names have already been linked with the opening, including San Francisco 49ers senior football vice president Adam Peters and Tampa Bay Buccaneers director of player personnel John Spytek.
John Elway joined the Denver Broncos in an executive role in 2011, having previously led the franchise to two Super Bowls as a quarterback during the late ’90s. Elway was handed all the decision-making power, and he did the best with it early on.
In the first five years under Elway in a management role, the Broncos won five AFC titles, made two Super Bowl trips, and won Super Bowl 50.
The next five, however, were less successful. Elway didn’t do a good job in finding a replacement for retired quarterback Peyton Manning, and the Broncos failed to make the playoffs ever since while recording just one winning season.
