John Elway’s Success – On The field, As a Football Executive, and Even in the Kitchen

Feb 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos general manager John Elway speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Any Broncos fan, even if you were born after 2000, is aware of the name John Elway.  To put it simply, Elway put the Denver Broncos on the professional football map with his style of play and late game heroics.  Although the Super Bowl trips during the eighties were disappointing, winning Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII was icing on the cake for a career that we all knew would conclude at Canton, Ohio in the NFL Hall of Fame.  We were wrong because although the playing career has ended, Elway continues leading the Denver Broncos as Executive Vice President of Football Operations.  Although he is moving the team in the right direction, most Bronco fans will consider Elway successful in the executive area only if the Broncos can win a third Super Bowl.  Another area that Elway is finding success in is the restaurant business.  USA Today recently published an article where they asked readers to help identify the top twenty athlete-owned restaurants from a pool of thirty-five restaurants.  Guess who rated number one?  You guessed it, Elway’s!   Continue reading for the entire top twenty list.  Click here for link to the USA Today article.

1. Elway’s – John Elway (Denver, CO)
2. Tresca – Ray Bourque (Boston, MA)
3. The Kingfish Café – Gary Payton (Seattle, WA)
4. Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant – Arnold Palmer (La Quinta, CA)
5. Short’s Burger and Shrine – Nate Kaeding (Iowa City, IA)
6. Yao Restaurant and Bar – Yao Ming (Houston, TX)
7. Greg Norman’s Australian Grill – Greg Norman (Myrtle Beach, SC)
8. Bubba Q’s –  Al “Bubba” Baker (Avon, OH)
9. Vince Young Steakhouse – Vince Young (Austin, TX)
10. Island Way Grill – Mike “A-Train” Alstott and Dave Moore (Clearwater Beach, FL)
11. Ditka’s – Mike Ditka (Pittsburgh, PA; Chicago, IL; Oakbrook, IL)
12. Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine – Clyde Frazier (New York, NY)
13. Brett Favre’s Steakhouse – Brett Favre (Green Bay, WI)
14. Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse – Fred Smerlas and Steve DeOssie (Lincoln, RI)
15. Randy White’s Hall of Fame Barbeque – Randy White (Frisco, TX)
16. Majerle’s – Dan Majerle (Phoenix, AZ)
17. Wayne Gretzky’s – Wayne Gretzky (Toronto, Ontario)
18. Billy Sims Barbecue – Billy Sims (various locations)
19. Joe Theismann’s – Joe Theismann (Alexandria, VA)
20. 8-Twelve MVP Bar & Grill – Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Braun (Brookfield, WI)

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