John Elway was drafted No. 1 overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1983 NFL Draft out of Stanford. 234 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 140 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #1
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1983
- NFL games
- 234
- Years as starter
- 16
- Career AV
- 1401st at Stanford
- Pro Bowls
- 9
The pick
How John Elway came off the board in 1983.
- Position
- Quarterback QB
- College
-
Stanford
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
234 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 140 career approximate value
- Games played
- 234
- Seasons as a starter
- 16
- Career approximate value
- 1401st among Stanford picks
- Final season
- 199815 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 9× Pro Bowl
Around pick 1
Who came off the board on either side of John Elway.
SMU · Hall of Fame · 5× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
Penn State · 3× Pro Bowl
Stanford in the 1983 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other QB picks from Stanford
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
John Elway in the 1983 NFL Draft
John Elway is a Quarterback out of Stanford selected No. 1 overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1983 NFL Draft. 234 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 140 career approximate value Stanford has produced 149 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was John Elway drafted?
John Elway was selected No. 1 overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1983 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/john-elway.
What college did John Elway play for?
John Elway played college football at Stanford in the ACC. See every Stanford draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/stanford-cardinal.
How did John Elway's NFL career turn out?
234 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 140 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 9× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/john-elway.