2025 GRAND MARSHAL JOHN ELWAY
John Elway, this year’s Official Grand Marshal of the 42nd Annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade, is widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the history of football. He was chosen as Grand Marshal for this year’s parade, honoring the 100th Centennial Anniversary of the Founding of the Community of Granada Hills, as an outstanding ambassador for the community, where his football career was launched. We can think of no one better to honor as a hometown hero during this centennial celebration.
He was a Varsity football quarterback and a Varsity baseball player while attending Granada Hills High School, graduating in 1979. There, he played football for Head Coaches Jack Neumeier and Tom Richards, and baseball for Coach Daryl Stroh, who also assisted in coaching John Elway in football.
He was named to the Parade All America High School Football Team.
Known as a dual-threat quarterback, he was accomplished at running and escaping pressure with an impressive passing ability. He was amongst the top recruited high school players in the country, receiving numerous college and university scholarships.
Also, as a talented baseball player, John Elway was drafted out of Granada Hills High School by the Kansas City Royals to play Major League Baseball.
Instead, he chose to play football and baseball for Stanford University. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Due to his outstanding baseball playing, he was also selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.
After graduation at Stanford University with a degree in Economics, John Elway, as a professional football quarterback, spent his entire 16-year career with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League.
As a player, he was a two time Super Bowl Champion. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Following his football playing career, he then spent 11 years with the Denver Broncos in various front office positions. The Denver Broncos won a Super Bowl in 2015, while he was an executive with them.
John Elway is an accomplished businessman, spokesperson, consultant, commentator, and philanthropist.
We are pleased and honored to have him in the Grand Marshal role for the parade.