Broncos Fans React to John Elway Presenting Lombardi Trophy to Chiefs

Chiefs fans couldn't resist the "cherry on top" of Elway presenting their team with the trophy. 

The Takeaway

As a Hall-of-Famer and NFL icon, perhaps Elway is above the concerns of mere mortals and the symbolism of a Broncos icon handing the Chiefs a Lombardi Trophy on national television. And it's not like Elway could control that coincidence of Kansas City winning it all on the 25-year anniversary of the Broncos winning Super Bowl XXXIII and him being named MVP. 

This is my measured take after the initial shock of this spectacle wore off. In the moment, I was a bit more emotional about it. 

But Broncos fans the world over are wishing that Elway hadn't answered the phone when the NFL called to ask for his participation in this cringe-fest. He's already dealing with legacy issues in the wake of his post-Super Bowl 50 record as the Broncos' top football executive. 

This won't help Elway's image in Bronco-land, especially after he failed to defeat the Chiefs even once after Peyton Manning hung up his cleats. Hopefully, this won't diminish all of Elway's accomplishments with and on behalf of the Broncos.

All three of Denver's Lombardi Trophies have Elway's fingerprints on them, as do seven of the team's eight Super Bowl appearances. But the sting of this now infamously iconic moment in Las Vegas will linger within the zeitgeist of the Broncos-Chiefs ongoing rivalry.