NFL Trade Deadline: 30 greatest trades in NFL history

3. John Elway ends up on Broncos instead of Colts

Remember before when Eli Manning was the topic of discussion, and how he wasn’t the only player in history to refuse to play for a certain team? Just like Manning, John Elway found himself in a similar situation when he entered the league in 1983. The Stanford quarterback wanted nothing to do with the then-Baltimore Colts, who selected him with the top overall pick in the draft that year.

To say this situation with Elway became messy would be a huge understatement. There was so much uncertainty before the Colts finally agreed to a deal with the Denver Broncos. This trade worked out in the best way possible, as everyone knows.

Along with trading Chris Hinton, who was selected by the Broncos at No. 4, the Colts also received Mark Herrmann and a first-round pick in 1984. This showed  whole mess with Elway wasn’t so bad after all, minus the part where he would go on to win two Super Bowls in Denver, of course.

There aren’t many players in the NFL that get to end their career on the highest note possible by retiring after a Super Bowl win. Elway managed to do so in amazing fashion by announcing his retirement after winning back-to-back titles over the Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons, respectively.

Between all the records he set in his time in Denver, they eventually helped him land a job in the team’s front office later on. Turns out, refusing to play for Baltimore was the best decision Elway ever made.

Without question, Elway will always be considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game of football. The Broncos are forever thankful he came into the picture when he did. He is the greatest player in franchise history for a reason.