Joel Hefley: “First it was Jordan, then it was Gretzky, now it is Elway. On Sunday afternoon, the whole State of Colorado turned on…”

“First it was Jordan, then it was Gretzky, now it is Elway. On Sunday afternoon, the whole State of Colorado turned on their television sets to watch a press conference. The man whose name has become synonymous with the Denver Broncos, John Elway, announced his retirement from football. The statistics books will show that John Elway had 16 great seasons as a Denver Bronco. He had 148 victories and 47 come-from-behind wins, both National Football League records. He passed for over 50,000 yards, rushed for another 3,000 and played in 234 games, and through it all he only missed 15 career starts. Not the least of his achievements, he led the Broncos to five Superbowls and two Superbowl wins. What the stat books will not show us is what John Elway has meant to the State of Colorado. He gave us joy and excitement every week. His career became a true profile in courage of perseverance and was a testimony to all that dreams can really come true. Most importantly, in a time when Colorado and this Nation is in such desperate need of role models, John Elway was that, too. John, from the State of Colorado and from a grateful Nation and from this Bronco fan: 'Thank you.'”