Back to the Denver Broncos Newsfeed

Crazy story: The Chargers almost traded for John Elway in 1983

Related Topics: John Elway, Al Saunders

Would you believe it if I told you that John Elway was once very nearly a division rival and dare I say enemy of the Denver Broncos?

According to Al Saunders in a piece on ESPN.com ranking the top 10 quarterbacks to ever play, the San Diego Chargers tried to move up and get Elway and even thought it was a done deal. He recalls:

I was a young coach in San Diego, about 34 years old. Don Coryell calls Ernie Zampese and I into the office and says he wants to fly us up to San Jose to have dinner with Jack Elway, John’s dad.