‘Elway’ (2025) Netflix Review - A Humble Take on a Legendary Quarterback’s Journey

I went into Elway expecting a solid sports documentary, and what I got was exactly that: a well-crafted, often moving celebration of one of football’s most enduring figures that delivers plenty of the moments fans want, the thrilling highs, stinging lows, and human reflections — while occasionally sticking a little too tightly to the conventional documentary playbook. This is the kind of movie that will make Broncos devotees cheer, casual NFL fans nod appreciatively, and film buffs tilt their heads, wondering what might have been with a bolder approach.

What works exceptionally well in Elway is its embrace of the man himself. The documentary is anchored by Elway’s own voice and perspective, letting him narrate his journey in a way that feels direct and intimate without drifting into self-indulgence. You see him talk about the pressure of carrying enormous expectations from his college days into a demanding professional career, and you come away with a real sense of the emotional load he carried. The film doesn’t shy away from the grind — the early Super Bowl losses that haunted his reputation for years are treated not as embarrassing detours but as the defining trials of a competitive life. These moments, particularly revisiting “The Drive” and the AFC Championship pushes, are inherently dramatic, and the film leans into that drama in a way that feels earned.

The structure of the documentary is mostly chronological, which keeps the narrative easy to follow and reinforces just how long and complex Elway’s career was. You watch him go from a Stanford standout — complete with his surprising draft by a baseball team and the resulting swirl of expectations — to a young NFL phenom who couldn’t escape criticism despite clear talent, then finally to a champion who led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl victories late in his career. Along the way, the documentary sprinkles in enough context about the culture of football, the evolution of the Broncos franchise, and Elway’s relationships with teammates and rivals to keep even non-fans anchored in the story.

Performances here aren’t performances in the fiction sense, but the individuals who appear — former teammates, coaches, analysts, and Elway himself bring a sincerity that’s hard to fake. Their recollections are frequently insightful and sometimes surprising, offering moments that feel like they go beyond the typical “greatest hits” reel. The editing and use of archival footage are sharp: game highlights are dynamic without feeling gratuitous, and the transitions into quieter, reflective scenes help humanize a figure who could otherwise be reduced to helmet numbers and highlight reels.

On the technical side, Elway is solid if not revolutionary. The cinematography is clear and functional, especially in the archival segments, and the pacing generally keeps the momentum moving. There were a few stretches where the film seemed content to coast on nostalgia rather than dig deeper, but for most of its roughly 98-minute runtime, it balances exposition with emotion effectively.

That said, the documentary isn’t without its shortcomings. The biggest critique I have is that it often errs on the side of admiration to the point of reverence, sometimes glossing over opportunities for more pointed analysis. This is the story of a legendary quarterback, yes, but it also could have been a deeper psychological portrait of a man navigating pressure, expectation, and personal sacrifice. While Elway touches on these themes, it rarely probes the edges of them. There are references to the toll his quest for greatness took on family and friendships, but those insights are often fleeting rather than fully explored. For a documentary that promises an “in-his-own-words” approach, I wanted just a bit more nuance about who Elway was off the field instead of the very polished version of the legend that this film ultimately presents.

Another small frustration is the predictability of the narrative arc. The early days, the struggles, the eventual triumphs — that arc is classic sports storytelling and for good reason, but here it plays out with few surprises. I found myself wishing the filmmakers had chosen to highlight lesser-known anecdotes or threads rather than sticking so closely to the expected timeline. When you’ve lived and breathed NFL lore for decades, it’s difficult not to feel like you’ve seen variations of this story pattern before, and while the details are unique to Elway, the overall shape of the film feels familiar.

Even so, there’s a warmth here that redeems a lot of those formulaic tendencies. Elway’s reflections are grounded and sometimes surprisingly vulnerable; hearing him admit that chasing perfection “came at a sacrifice” gives the film an emotional core that transcends mere fan service. The documentary doesn’t mock his failures, and it doesn’t inflate his successes beyond their real significance — it respects the complexity of a career that, for many years, was defined as much by what it lacked as by what it achieved until the very end.

Where Elway really shines is in his ability to make you care about the journey, even if you’re not a diehard fan. The football sequences are thrilling even to someone who might only casually follow the sport, and the personal elements — the reflections on identity, legacy, and longevity — give the film a broader appeal. There’s no denying that the man at the center of this story is a compelling figure, and the documentary captures that in ways both big and small.

In the end, Elway is a respectful, engaging tribute that celebrates one of the NFL’s most memorable figures while offering enough personal insight to make the experience meaningful. It isn’t perfect, and viewers looking for a fearless, boundary-pushing documentary might find it a little too polished and predictable. But as a comprehensive look at John Elway’s life, career, and legacy told with clarity, passion, and respect, it succeeds admirably. If you’re in the mood for a sports documentary that balances legend with humanity, this is one worth your time.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times