Elway Passed Through, but Left Mark

John Elway didn’t have a long stay in the San Fernando Valley but he left his mark, particularly at Granada Hills High.

Arguably the greatest athlete to come out of the Valley, Elway arrived at Granada Hills in 1976, the same season his father, Jack, was named head football coach at Cal State Northridge.

Under a progressive passing system coached by Granada Hills’ Jack Neumeier, Elway developed many of the tools that would lead him to greatness in the NFL.

In three varsity seasons, Elway passed for 5,701 yards and 49 touchdowns. His senior season was cut short after six games by a knee injury, but his exploits earned him a scholarship at Stanford.

After four years at Stanford, Elway was the first pick of the Baltimore Colts in the 1983 NFL draft. Elway refused to sign with the Colts, and forced a trade to the Denver Broncos.

Elway has led the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances and at 36 is still considered one of the best quarterbacks in the game, even though he is one of the oldest.

In addition to football, Elway was a standout baseball player. He was the City Section Player of the Year in 1978, batting .491 and leading the Highlanders to the 4-A title.

Elway played in the Yankees’ farm system for one summer while still at Stanford and briefly considered a career in baseball.

Elway has found success in Denver outside of sports, owning and operating seven car dealerships.

“Probably John’s greatest break was going to Granada Hills and being tutored by Jack Neumeier,” Jack Elway told The Times in 1990. “John was his real protege.”