John Elway Throws Shade at Terry Bradshaw in QB Greatness Debate
When the conversation turns to all-time great quarterbacks, opinions fly fast-and sometimes, they hit hard. That was certainly the case during a recent Netflix Sports interview with Hall of Famer John Elway, where the former Broncos legend didn’t hold back when asked to rank some of the NFL’s most iconic signal-callers.
Elway, a two-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most gifted quarterbacks to ever play the game, was asked who he’d take over Joe Montana. His answer?
Not many. In fact, Elway kept it pretty tight at the top, putting Montana above the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, and Steve Young-largely due to Montana’s four Super Bowl rings and legendary poise in the biggest moments.
Elway made it clear he respects Mahomes, Manning, and Young. But when it came to Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw-also a four-time Super Bowl winner-Elway didn’t mince words.
“No doubt, Joe Montana. Terry Bradshaw is way down on my list,” Elway said.
That wasn’t just a snub-it was a straight-up stiff-arm.
Elway did give Tom Brady the nod over Montana in terms of greatness, but when asked who he’d take above all others? He picked himself.
“I always said I would never trade my ability for anybody else, and so I’m going to take me,” Elway said with a grin that suggested he wasn’t joking.
A Grudge Four Decades in the Making?
Elway’s comments about Bradshaw didn’t come out of nowhere. There’s a long history between the two, and it dates all the way back to 1983-Elway’s draft year.
At the time, Bradshaw wasn’t exactly a fan of Elway’s decision to refuse to play for the Baltimore Colts, who held the No. 1 overall pick. Elway famously forced a trade to Denver, threatening to play baseball instead of suiting up for a struggling franchise.
Bradshaw didn’t hold back in his criticism. He called Elway “babied,” questioned his competitive fire, and said he wasn’t the kind of quarterback you win championships with.
“He didn’t want to go to a team that needed his services,” Bradshaw said back then. “To me, it was a slap in the face to the draft and to the National Football League.”
Bradshaw even compared Elway’s situation to his own, saying he could’ve refused to go to Pittsburgh when he was drafted in 1970, citing the cold weather and cultural differences. But he went anyway-and helped turn a 1-13 team into a dynasty.
“I said, ‘Well, I’ll go up there and I’ll make them a winner.’ And we did,” Bradshaw said.
He didn’t stop there, either. Bradshaw questioned Elway’s college résumé, his mentality, and even mocked his California roots.
**“He said, ‘Well, I want to be on the West Coast and I want to be on the beach and I’m a California boy.’ Well, who cares what you are, you know?”
** Bradshaw said at the time. **“He’s not the kind of guy you win championships with.”
**
Of course, Elway went on to prove Bradshaw wrong-winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos and cementing his legacy as one of the best to ever do it.
Bradshaw Owned Up-But Elway Might Not Be Over It
To his credit, Bradshaw eventually admitted he was wrong. In 1998, before Elway won his first Super Bowl, Bradshaw told the Los Angeles Times that his earlier comments were fueled by jealousy and insecurity.
“I was a quarterback constantly ridiculed, constantly questioned,” Bradshaw said. **“Even when we won, it was because of everybody else.
I had a chip on my shoulder.” **
That chip led to what Bradshaw called an emotional outburst.
“I wanted to be thought of the same way as Elway, the same way as Staubach,” he said. “It was a huge mistake.”
Bradshaw even admitted Elway was right to call him out for being jealous.
“I still am,” Bradshaw said. **“I wish I had all that money and hair.
I wish I could ski and play golf like he can.” **
But even with that apology on the record, Elway’s recent comments suggest the sting of those early criticisms may still linger. For a guy as competitive as Elway, being doubted-especially by another Super Bowl-winning QB-clearly left a mark.
So while the debate over the greatest quarterbacks of all time continues to rage on, one thing’s clear: Elway’s list doesn’t include Terry Bradshaw anywhere near the top. And after all these years, that rivalry still has a little heat.