Photo by CC user maegan02 on Flickr.
When John ‘Jack’ Elway started out his footballing career as a quarterback in Washington, he could never have predicted the success and the impact that both he and the son he would go on to have, would have not only on the NFL but on the world of football as a whole. Today we are going to take a look at the life and careers of Jack Elway and John Elway, where they came from and how they achieved what they have in the game.
Let’s start with the man who started it all…
Jack Elway
Jack Elway was born in Hoquiam, Washington, at high school the young Elway played as quarterback for the local high school before attending Washington State. In Washington State Jack Elway continued in his position of quarterback before a knee injury would cut his career tragically short. Unperturbed, Elway went on to complete his education and began his coaching career at Port Angeles High School.
From 1961-1976 Elway would work as assistant head coach at Grays Harbor College, Montana and Washington State before landing his first head coaching position at Cal State Northridge where he would stay for 2 years before taking on Division I side San Jose State where he saw good success.
Following Jack’s success at San Jose State he moved to Stanford University before taking on new World League outfit Frankfurt for they first two years since their inception. Finally Elway would be taken on by Denver Broncos as a scout until his retirement in 1999. During his time at the Broncos, Elway helped to for the side that won two Superbowl championships.
John Elway
Son of Jack Elway, John would take the lead of his father and go on to have a highly successful career in the world of football and earn himself a position in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Elway played as quarterback for Stanford University and in the 1993 draft he was picked up by NFL franchise the Denver Broncos where go on to dedicate his entire 16 year career there picking up two Superbowl rings in 1997 and 1998 as well as being named Superbowl MVP in 1997.
Following his retirement from playing 1999, Elway would go on to become the executive Vice President and General Manager of the Broncos and oversaw them winning 4 division titles and two AFC Championships and then in 2015 winning the Superbowl once again.
John Elway was not just successful in his own right, he has also passed the sporting ability of the Elway name on to his children. His daughter Jessica played basketball for Stanford University’s women’s team and his son Jack played quarterback Cherry Creek High school in Colorado where he received All-State honors. Following his glittering high school career, Jack went on to join Arizona State University and was their starting quarterback until 2009.
It seems that the Elway name continues to live on through the world of football and there is no doubt that with so much success in the family, that the next generation will go on to repeat history.
