On May 2, 1999...sixteen years to the day he was acquired by the Denver Broncos...legendary quarterback John Elway bid an emotional farewell to the NFL and the Denver Broncos, the franchise with whom he became synonymous.  The announcement came a little more than three months after Elway earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XXXIII with one of the best games of his career. 

He retires second in NFL history to Miami's Dan Marino in passing yards (51,475) and completions (4,123) and is third to Marino and Fran Tarkenton in touchdown passes with 300. Elway is the all-time leader in victories as a starting quarterback with 148 and also the only quarterback to start five Super Bowls, surpassing the likes of Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach and Jim Kelly. 

Elway will be best known as the master of the comeback. He directed a record 47 fourth-quarter or overtime drives to win games! Elway led the Broncos to three Super Bowl trips in a four-year span from 1986 to 1989, but Denver lost all three games by a combined score of 136-40. In January of 1998, 

Elway finally earned a championship in his 15th year when the Broncos upset the Green Bay Packers, 31-24, in Super Bowl XXXII. Although Elway threw for just 123 yards, he scored on a one-yard run and made a handful of key plays. Elway seriously considered retirement after helping the Broncos win their first Super Bowl title in January 1998. After four months of contemplation, Elway decided to return and help the Broncos defend their championship. Elway then wrote a storybook ending in the postseason. Facing his former Denver coach, Dan Reeves, Elway completed 18-of-29 passes for 336 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score to lead the Broncos to a 34-19 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. The victory over the Falcons had to be especially sweet for Elway, who played the first 10 years of his career under Reeves.

Elway all but signaled his retirement in January with a victory lap around Mile High Stadium after the Broncos defeated the New York Jets in the AFC championship game. In the Elway era, the Broncos won two Super Bowls, five of six AFC championship games, seven AFC West titles and nine playoff berths. His jersey has been retired on the Denver Broncos. We will never forget John Elway, number 7.