Former Broncos quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning could find themselves in rare company by the end of the week.
The two were named finalists at the quarterback position for the NFL 100 All-Time Team, which will include 10 total quarterbacks once the list is pared down in a two-hour special on Friday. The NFL has already announced that Joe Montana and Tom Brady are on the team.
Elway and Manning join several former Broncos who have been finalists for the team, including tight end Shannon Sharpe, cornerback Champ Bailey and outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller.
However, if "The Duke" and "The Sheriff" are selected to the team, they'll be just the second and third former Broncos to make it. Willie Brown, who played for the Broncos from 1963-66 before cementing his status as a Hall of Famer during 12 years with the Raiders, made the team as one of its seven cornerbacks.
Elway's and Manning's status as finalists for this prestigious collection of all-time talent will undoubtedly put them in contention for the final eight spots yet to be announced, as their tenures defined not just the franchise's most successful eras, but also the league's.
During Elway's time in the league, he led the Broncos to five Super Bowls, winning two (XXXII and XXXIII) and earning game MVP honors after securing Denver's second world championship. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2004 and the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, Elway also was voted to nine Pro Bowls and finished his career as the NFL's all-time winningest starting quarterback.
With tremendous arm strength and a dazzling elusiveness, Elway proved to be one of the most talented quarterbacks in league history — and those skills were often on display than when the game was on the line. Elway finished his career with the second-most game-winning drives in league history.
Manning, who came to Denver in 2012 after an illustrious career with the Colts, continued the Broncos' legacy of great quarterbacks as he returned the team to its first Super Bowls since Elway retired.
As Manning recovered from a neck injury that cut his time in Indianapolis short, he returned to his usual self, this time in orange and blue. In four years, Manning led the Broncos to 50 overall wins, four playoff berths, two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl victory.
Along the way, he earned three Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro nods, league MVP honors and torched NFL record books. Upon his retirement, he held career records in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and to this day, Manning still holds the record for most passing touchdowns in a single season with 55 in 2013.
The two-hour special announcing the 10-man quarterback roster on the All-Time Top 100 Team will air on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET.
