Elway influenced by Seahawks when building Broncos' defense
Denver Broncos general manager John Elway channeled the most harrowing loss of his executive career into a net positive for his franchise.
The Broncos scored an NFL-record 606 points in 2013 and cruised into Super Bowl XLVIII. However, the Broncos were annihilated in a 43-8 rout by the Seattle Seahawks, who emerged victorious on the strength of a legendary defense.
Elway and his staff rebounded from the loss and built a defense that ranks among the best units in the league. In 2015, the Broncos captured Super Bowl 50 in large part due to a defense that will be ranked among the best units of all time.
With free agency on the horizon, Elway credited the loss to the Seahawks for inspiring him to build a great defense.
"It was at that point in time I think that we watched the model that the Seahawks and John (Schneider, Seahawks GM) and Coach Carroll had put together of being great on defense," Elway said in a radio appearance Saturday with ESPN Seattle. "I think what we were able to do is we added some key components that offseason via free agency and plus my first five years that I was here we worked on the defense. … It all came together at the right time. Having seen the focus that on the defensive side, no matter what, if you had a great defense you're going to be able to stay in football games."
Upon being promoted to general manager in 2012, Elway said he put particular emphasis on fixing the defense, making a number of key acquisitions through free agency.
"My first five years that I was here we worked on the defense, and so our first five picks were defensive guys," he said. "Those five guys really matured, came along, played great defense, and we were able to add Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, and T.J. Ward, some key pieces there. And then Wade Phillips came in with (then-head coach) Gary Kubiak as defensive coordinator, so really kinda everything aligned. I think the key thing is the young guys matured and really played well so that's really what happened, and you're right, we rode their backs last year to Super Bowl 50."
Elway will likely be haunted by the 2013 Super Bowl loss forever, but he responded by building a defense that perennially ranks among the NFL's best.