The Denver Broncos tweeted early on Wednesday morning that former quarterback John Elway is now the team's executive vice president of football operations. In addition, Joe Ellis has been appointed as the team president.
A press conference announcing these moves is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MT this afternoon. As vice president of football operations, Elway will lead the search for a new head coach and will oversee the coach and general manager Brian Xanders.
This move had been speculated for some time and gained steam around the time the Broncos fired Josh McDaniels. While much remains to be seen how well Elway will work out as an executive in the NFL (he had experience with the AFL's Colorado Crush), from a PR standpoint this is a huge win for the Denver Broncos. The quarterback who led the Broncos in their glory days in the 1990s to two Super Bowl championships returns to save a team that has foundered for the last decade. The guy who led "The Drive" will now attempt one in the front office.
Elway should be in Atlanta on Friday to conduct an interview with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for the Broncos' head coaching position.