John Elway is a Hall of Fame quarterback whose career earned a strong career value score of 78 in the Knox value model. Elway's enshrinement reflects a career that consistently placed him among the elite of his generation.

QBDEN#7ACT

John Elway

★ HALL OF FAME9× Pro Bowl👑 Dynasty DNA · 7 seasons · 2 titles Top 2% all-time QBsIron Legend

Height6'3"

Weight215 lb

BornJun 28, 1960

Age66

CollegeStanford See College Stats

Rookie yr1983

Draft1983 · Rd 1, Pick 1 · BAL

All-Time Rank & Honors

career ranks, postseason ranks, awards, title context

Regular-season all-time ranks

12thPassing Yards·51,475 yds 14thPassing Touchdowns·300

Postseason all-time ranks

9thPlayoff Passing Yards·4,964 yds 14thPlayoff Passing Touchdowns·27 26thPlayoff Rushing Touchdowns·6 54thPlayoff Rushing Yards·461 yds

Pro Bowls

Title Seasons

Dynasty Seasons

Yes

Hall of Fame

Season honors and record seasons

Led NFL1993·Pass Yds4,030 yds

Archetype Intelligence

Iron LegendExplore archetypes →

An all-time caliber quarterback (top 5% all-time) who combined elite production with exceptional availability — almost never missed time. Iron Legends define eras — they show up, every game, for years on end.

Career Value · VORP

VORP 482 · #25 · All-Time

Worth 482 points of value above a freely-available replacement quarterback — top 2% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 16 of 16 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +30.1 on average.See board →

Seasons above replacement

16 cleared

Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit

Replacement

the KC-H bar

→

Seasons over

cleared the bar

+30.1

Avg surplus

peak +37

16 seasons × ~30.1 surplus ≈ VORP 482

Combined Season Grid

The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.

2 grids split in one view

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Passing													Rushing
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	TD%	Int%	Y/A	AdjY/A	TD:INT	Rate	Sk	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb
1983	—	DEN	11	—	123	259	47.5%	1,663	7	14	2.7	5.4	6.4	4.5	0.5	54.9	—	28	146	1	5.2	3.6	—	—	—
1984	—	DEN	15	—	214	380	56.3%	2,598	18	15	4.7	3.9	6.8	6.0	1.2	76.8	—	56	237	1	4.2	1.8	—	—	—
1985	—	DEN	16	—	327	605	54.0%	3,891	22	23	3.6	3.8	6.4	5.4	1.0	70.2	—	51	253	0	5.0	0.0	—	—	—
1986	—	DEN	16	—	280	504	55.6%	3,485	19	13	3.8	2.6	6.9	6.5	1.5	79.0	—	52	257	1	4.9	1.9	—	—	—
1987	—	DEN	12	—	224	410	54.6%	3,198	19	12	4.6	2.9	7.8	7.4	1.6	83.4	—	66	304	4	4.6	6.1	—	—	—
1988	—	DEN	15	—	274	496	55.2%	3,309	17	19	3.4	3.8	6.7	5.6	0.9	71.4	—	54	234	1	4.3	1.9	—	—	—
1989	—	DEN	15	—	223	416	53.6%	3,051	18	18	4.3	4.3	7.3	6.3	1.0	73.7	—	48	244	3	5.1	6.3	—	—	—
1990	—	DEN	16	—	294	502	58.6%	3,526	15	14	3.0	2.8	7.0	6.4	1.1	78.5	—	50	258	3	5.2	6.0	—	—	—
1991	—	DEN	16	—	242	451	53.7%	3,253	13	12	2.9	2.7	7.2	6.6	1.1	75.4	—	55	255	6	4.6	10.9	—	—	—
1992	—	DEN	12	—	174	316	55.1%	2,242	10	17	3.2	5.4	7.1	5.3	0.6	65.7	—	34	94	2	2.8	5.9	—	—	—
1993	—	DEN	16	—	348	551	63.2%	4,030	25	10	4.5	1.8	7.3	7.4	2.5	92.8	—	44	153	0	3.5	0.0	—	—	—
1994	—	DEN	14	—	307	494	62.1%	3,490	16	10	3.2	2.0	7.1	6.8	1.6	85.7	—	58	235	4	4.1	6.9	—	—	—
1995	—	DEN	16	—	316	542	58.3%	3,970	26	14	4.8	2.6	7.3	7.1	1.9	86.4	—	41	176	1	4.3	2.4	—	—	—
1996	—	DEN	15	—	287	466	61.6%	3,328	26	14	5.6	3.0	7.1	6.9	1.9	89.2	—	50	249	4	5.0	8.0	—	—	—
1997	—	DEN	16	—	280	502	55.8%	3,635	27	11	5.4	2.2	7.2	7.3	2.5	87.5	—	50	218	1	4.4	2.0	—	—	—
1998	—	DEN	13	—	210	356	59.0%	2,806	22	10	6.2	2.8	7.9	7.9	2.2	93.0	—	37	94	1	2.5	2.7	—	—	—
Career		—	234	—	4,123	7,250	56.9%	51,475	300	226	4.1	3.1	7.1	6.5	1.3	79.9	—	774	3,407	33	4.4	4.3	—	—	—

Passing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	TD%	Int%	Y/A	AdjY/A	TD:INT	Rate	Sk	VAL
1983	23	DEN	11	—	123	259	47.5%	1,663	7	14	2.7	5.4	6.4	4.5	0.5	54.9	—	7.6
1984	24	DEN	15	—	214	380	56.3%	2,598	18	15	4.7	3.9	6.8	6.0	1.2	76.8	—	13.7
1985	25	DEN	16	—	327	605	54.0%	3,891	22	23	3.6	3.8	6.4	5.4	1.0	70.2	—	14
1986	26	DEN	16	—	280	504	55.6%	3,485	19	13	3.8	2.6	6.9	6.5	1.5	79.0	—	15.6
1987	27	DEN	12	—	224	410	54.6%	3,198	19	12	4.6	2.9	7.8	7.4	1.6	83.4	—	14.1
1988	28	DEN	15	—	274	496	55.2%	3,309	17	19	3.4	3.8	6.7	5.6	0.9	71.4	—	12.8
1989	29	DEN	15	—	223	416	53.6%	3,051	18	18	4.3	4.3	7.3	6.3	1.0	73.7	—	12.6
1990	30	DEN	16	—	294	502	58.6%	3,526	15	14	3.0	2.8	7.0	6.4	1.1	78.5	—	14.6
1991	31	DEN	16	—	242	451	53.7%	3,253	13	12	2.9	2.7	7.2	6.6	1.1	75.4	—	15.2
1992	32	DEN	12	—	174	316	55.1%	2,242	10	17	3.2	5.4	7.1	5.3	0.6	65.7	—	9.3
1993	33	DEN	16	—	348	551	63.2%	4,030	25	10	4.5	1.8	7.3	7.4	2.5	92.8	—	19.3
1994	34	DEN	14	—	307	494	62.1%	3,490	16	10	3.2	2.0	7.1	6.8	1.6	85.7	—	15.2
1995	35	DEN	16	—	316	542	58.3%	3,970	26	14	4.8	2.6	7.3	7.1	1.9	86.4	—	14.3
1996	36	DEN	15	—	287	466	61.6%	3,328	26	14	5.6	3.0	7.1	6.9	1.9	89.2	—	17.6
1997	37	DEN	16	—	280	502	55.8%	3,635	27	11	5.4	2.2	7.2	7.3	2.5	87.5	—	16.5
1998	38	DEN	13	—	210	356	59.0%	2,806	22	10	6.2	2.8	7.9	7.9	2.2	93.0	—	12.2
Career			234		4,123	7,250	56.9%	51,475	300	226	4.1	3.1	7.1	—	—	79.9	—	224.6

Rushing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb
1983	23	DEN	11	—	28	146	1	5.2	3.6	—	—	—
1984	24	DEN	15	—	56	237	1	4.2	1.8	—	—	—
1985	25	DEN	16	—	51	253	0	5.0	0.0	—	—	—
1986	26	DEN	16	—	52	257	1	4.9	1.9	—	—	—
1987	27	DEN	12	—	66	304	4	4.6	6.1	—	—	—
1988	28	DEN	15	—	54	234	1	4.3	1.9	—	—	—
1989	29	DEN	15	—	48	244	3	5.1	6.3	—	—	—
1990	30	DEN	16	—	50	258	3	5.2	6.0	—	—	—
1991	31	DEN	16	—	55	255	6	4.6	10.9	—	—	—
1992	32	DEN	12	—	34	94	2	2.8	5.9	—	—	—
1993	33	DEN	16	—	44	153	0	3.5	0.0	—	—	—
1994	34	DEN	14	—	58	235	4	4.1	6.9	—	—	—
1995	35	DEN	16	—	41	176	1	4.3	2.4	—	—	—
1996	36	DEN	15	—	50	249	4	5.0	8.0	—	—	—
1997	37	DEN	16	—	50	218	1	4.4	2.0	—	—	—
1998	38	DEN	13	—	37	94	1	2.5	2.7	—	—	—
Career			234		774	3,407	33	4.4	—	—	—	—

Receiving

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D
Career					—	3	61	1	—	20.3	—	—	—

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 78 · Great

A great career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 78 of 100, era-normalized against pass yds/g peers across 16 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 70 × longevity 1 = KV-H 78· confidence 100%

What builds the career mark of 66

On-field 47.6

Availability 18.4

On-field production Staying available

Season-by-season quality (era-relative pass yds/g)

1983bestavg 66elite 701998

All-Time Standing

how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position

Solid

of 100

Reached 58% of the all-time Passing Yards leader — a solid all-time profile at the position.

58% of the all-time Passing Yards leader58

2 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader67

A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 89%.

Career Aging Trajectory

vs. position group average · KV-H basis

Amber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average QBs aging curve. Group peak age: 29. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).

Playoff vs Regular Season

📊 Consistent

Passer Rating: 79.9 regular season → 79.7 playoffs (10 playoff seasons)

-0%

vs reg season

Postseason Career

Passing

Cmp355Att651Cmp%54.5%Yds4,964TD27Int21TD%4.1Int%3.2Y/A7.6AdjY/A7.0TD:INT1.3Rate79.7

Rushing

Att94Yds461TD6Y/A4.9TD%6.4

College Stats

StanfordImported college table

College Passing

Season	School	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	TD%	Int%	Y/A	AdjY/A	TD:INT	Rate	Sk
1979	—	50	96	52.1%	544	6	3	6.3	3.1	5.7	5.5	2.0	76.9	—
1980	—	248	379	65.4%	2,889	27	11	7.1	2.9	7.6	7.7	2.5	100.0	—
1981	—	214	366	58.5%	2,674	20	13	5.5	3.6	7.3	6.8	1.5	84.7	—
1982	—	262	405	64.7%	3,242	24	12	5.9	3.0	8.0	7.9	2.0	96.8	—
Career		774	1,246	62.1%	9,349	77	39	6.2	3.1	7.5	7.3	2.0	92.7	0

Reference Graph

Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.

1983 Draft Class· this player went #1

#2Eric DickersonRB #3Curt WarnerRB #4Chris HintonG #5Billy Ray Smith Jr.LB #7Todd BlackledgeQB #8Michael HaddixFB #9Bruce MatthewsC #12Tony HunterTE #14Jim KellyQB #15Tony EasonQB #18Willie GaultWR #24Ken O'BrienQB #27Dan MarinoQB #28Darrell GreenCB #31Mark CooperG #32Henry EllardWR

Franchise Succession

the room, before and after

John inherited the Denver Broncos QB room from Gary Kubiak (1983–1991), and handed it to Brian Griese (1998–2002).

Gary Kubiak 1983–1991John Elway 1983–1998Brian Griese 1998–2002Jake Plummer 2003–2006Jay Cutler 2006–2008Kyle Orton

Similar Players

Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).

Movementderived from season history

1998final season
Last recorded season with DEN
1983draft
Drafted by BAL — Round 1, Pick 1
1983team change
Joined DEN (from BAL)

Athletic & Unique Profile

verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts

6'3" / 215 lb

Frame

Knox

StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →

Historical Knox · KV-H

Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 16-season peers. See all →

Era Translator

Pass Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.

Season	Actual Pass Yds	Pass Yds/G	→ 2025 Pass Yds	→ 2025 /G
1983	1,663	151.2	3,797+2,134	223.3
1984	2,598	173.2	3,911+1,313	230
1985	3,891	243.2	4,457+566	262.2
1986	3,485	217.8	4,156+671	244.5
1987	3,198	266.5	4,465+1,267	262.7
1988	3,309	220.6	4,092+783	240.7
1989	3,051	203.4	3,973+922	233.7
1990	3,526	220.4	4,123+597	242.6
1991	3,253	203.3	3,989+736	234.6
1992	2,242	186.8	3,873+1,631	227.8
1993	4,030	251.9	4,407+377	259.3
1994	3,490	249.3	4,352+862	256
1995	3,970	248.1	4,384+414	257.9
1996	3,328	221.9	4,118+790	242.2
1997	3,635	227.2	4,208+573	247.6
1998	2,806	215.8	4,094+1,288	240.8

Data: nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:players, wikipedia:season-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only), wikipedia:college-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only), espn.com:stats-api (games-played, facts-only reference) · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026

Career Value · VORP

482 career value over replacement — #25 all-time of 4,642. 30.1/season above a replacement-level QB.

Draft OutcomeValue ↑

Pick #1 (Rd 1) · BAL · 1983 · +16.2 vs expected KV-H

78actual

61.8 expected · Δ+16.2

💔+38.1 stolen VORP·1.28 szns lost

Fan Rating

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John Elway

All-Time Rank & Honors

Archetype Intelligence

Career Value · VORP

Combined Season Grid

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

KV-H Anatomy

All-Time Standing

Career Aging Trajectory

Postseason Career

Passing

Rushing

College Stats

College Passing

Reference Graph

Top Teammates

1983 Draft Class· this player went #1

Franchise Succession

Similar Players

Movementderived from season history

Athletic & Unique Profile

Knox

Era Translator

Career Geography