On Monday, the Broncos announced John Elway would no longer be the team’s general manager. Here’s a look at Elway’s track record as the key football decision-maker over the past decade.
2011
8-8, 1st in AFC West, lost in divisional round
Elway took over the reins and saw Tim Tebow lead the Broncos to a surprising overtime win over the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. With his first pick as GM, he hit a home run with the selection of All-Pro linebacker Von Miller out of Texas A&M.
2012
13-3, 1st, lost in divisional round
Elway’s big signing was quarterback Peyton Manning, who led a magical season until a stunning home overtime playoff loss to Baltimore. Elway also drafted his first QB, Brock Osweiler.
2013
13-3, 1st, lost Super Bowl
The Broncos and their top-ranked offense made it back to the NFL’s biggest stage and were obliterated by the Seahawks. Elway went pretty much bust in the draft with DL Sylvester Williams and RB Monte Ball as his first two picks.
2014
12-4, 1st, lost divisional
The Broncos suffered a disappointing home playoff loss to Andrew Luck and the Colts, wasting another prolific offensive season by Manning & Co. Elway soon after changed coaches. John Fox was out and former teammate Gary Kubiak was in.
2015
12-4, 1st, won Super Bowl
Elway reached the pinnacle as an executive when the Broncos upset the Panthers to win Super Bowl 50, the franchise’s third title. But the drafting remained subpar, as evidenced by washed-out first-round pick Shane Ray.
2016
9-7, 3rd, missed playoffs
Trevor Siemian clearly wasn’t the answer at QB — and neither was Paxton Lynch. Kubiak, fresh off a championship the year before, retired after the season.
2017
5-11, 4th, missed playoffs
In Vance Joseph’s first season, the Broncos lost eight consecutive games and the QB carousel continued with Siemian, Osweiler and Lynch all getting starts. First-round draft pick Garett Bolles has panned out at left tackle.
2018
6-10, 3rd, missed playoffs
Joseph’s second year was as much of a circus as the first, and free-agent acquisition Case Keenum couldn’t turn around Denver’s fortunes at QB. Elway’s drafting was getting better, however, as he selected would-be Pro Bowlers Bradley Chubb at LB and Courtland Sutton at WR.
2019
7-9, 2nd, missed playoffs
Elway canned Joseph and brought in an old-school, longtime NFL defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. But Joe Flacco wasn’t the answer to Denver’s QB issues either, although the Broncos found immediate draft contributors in tight end Noah Fant and left guard Dalton Risner, and also chose QB Drew Lock.
2020
5-11, 4th, missed playoffs
A rash of injuries plagued the Broncos before the first game was even played. Lock had a bumpy second season as he tied for the NFL lead with 15 interceptions.
