John Elway has claimed Terry Bradshaw is ‘way down’ the list of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks in a brutal verdict on the four-time Super Bowl champion.
Bradshaw is one of football’s most beloved figures and one of the most successful quarterbacks in history.
The 77-year-old led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in six seasons between 1974 and 1978 before becoming the face of Fox’s NFL coverage.
But former Broncos quarterback Elway suggested Bradshaw does not compare to the likes of Tom Brady, Joe Montana – or himself.
Ahead of the NFL’s Christmas day slate of games, the 65-year-old took part in a game where he compared legendary quarterbacks of the past few decades.
He picked Montana over the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, Lamar Jackson and Steve Young but agonized over several selections and heaped praise on each quarterback individually.
John Elway claimed Terry Bradshaw is ‘way down’ the list of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks
When it came to Montana vs Bradshaw, however, Elway was unequivocal. ‘No doubt, Joe Montana,’ he told Netflix. ‘Terry Bradshaw is way down on my list.’
The clip soon went viral, with some fans suggesting his ‘hate’ for Bradshaw dates back to when the Steelers legend took issue with Elway’s bold stance at the NFL draft.
‘Elway still holding a grudge against Bradshaw for what he said about Elway when he was drafted is All-Pro pettiness,’ one fan said. ‘There is no love lost between those two,’ added another.
In 1983, Elway did not to play for the Baltimore Colts – the team that drafted him first overall. He teased a possible baseball career instead, forcing the Colts to trade Elway to the Broncos.
That drew criticism from Bradshaw, who said at the time that Elway’s stance ‘was a slap in the face to the draft and to the National Football League.’
He continued: ‘I could have done the same thing, but I didn’t. I went (to Pittsburgh). And the thing why I went was because they were 1-13.
‘I said, “Well, I’ll go up there and I’ll make them a winner.” And we did. So, the challenge of that and proving to him everybody that I was worthy of being the first draft choice was what inspired me to go on and do the things that we’ve done.
‘And for a guy like Elway to come and say: ‘Well, I want to be on the West Coast and I want to be on the beach and I’m a California boy.”
The 77-year-old Bradshaw led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in six seasons
Elway is pictured alongside Bradshaw following his second consecutive Super Bowl victory
‘Well, who cares what you are, you know? And he said, “Well, I’ll play baseball.’ Play baseball. You should play baseball.
‘Because in my opinion, he’s not the kind of guy you win championships with. He never did it when he was at Stanford. I don’t think he’ll do it Denver and personally, don’t care if he ever does it.’
After more than a decade of disappointment, Elway ended his career with back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Bradshaw interviewed him on the field after the second of those wins.
Elway then finished the Netflix challenge by picking himself over Brady.
