Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway long has been a private person in very public positions.
That was true during his on-field days as a quarterback at Stanford and later while winning back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver during a 16-season NFL career.
In recent years, Elway has been very visible as the General Manager and President of Football Operations for his beloved Broncos. His appearance in 2017 at President Trump’s Inauguration in Washington, D.C. was noted by many Denver media outlets.
Elway, a lifetime NFL Alumni member, occasionally uses his Twitter account to comment on current events to his one million followers. That was the case recently during the marches and protests following George Floyd’s violent death in Minneapolis.
“I always thought that since I grew up in a locker room,” Elway tweeted, “I knew everything there was to know about understanding teammates from different backgrounds and walks of life. What I’ve realized in recent days is that I could not have been more wrong.”
Elway’s father, Jack, was a longtime successful high school and college coach on the West Coast during John’s youth.
“I realize that I have a long way to go but will keep listening and learning,” John’s tweet continued. “I truly believe a lot of goodwill will come from the many difficult conversations that are taking place around our team, league, and country.
“I fully support our players using their platforms and influence in a positive way to create change. We all have heard folks say that sports can be a much-needed distraction during a challenging time. I know that the players, our team, and league can be so much more than that.
“We can all be part of the solution. I also understand that my voice needs to be part of the conversation, too. I am not going to stay on the sidelines. I am joining with the players, coaches, and our Broncos organization in speaking up against racism, police brutality, and any injustice against the black community.”
John Elway is back in the spotlight. We at NFL Alumni appreciate his candor and leadership.
