NEWS: Netflix Announces “The Underdog,” a Highly Anticipated Documentary on John Elway, Set to Premiere This Fall

April 22, 2025

In a groundbreaking crossover between sports and cinematic storytelling, Netflix has officially announced the upcoming release of “The Underdog,” a highly anticipated documentary chronicling the life and career of NFL legend John Elway. Slated for release this fall, the film is already generating buzz among sports fans, Broncos faithful, and documentary enthusiasts around the globe.

Elway, a two-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame quarterback, remains one of the most iconic and influential figures in football history. Yet, behind the accolades, the game-winning drives, and his near-mythical status in Denver, lies a deeper story—one of grit, controversy, near-misses, and redemption.

“The Underdog” promises to pull back the curtain on Elway’s journey like never before, tracing his rise from a Southern California high school star to the face of a franchise—and ultimately, a defining figure in the NFL’s modern era.

An Intimate Portrait of a Complex Football Icon

Produced by Netflix Sports in collaboration with NFL Films and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman (best known for O.J.: Made in America), The Underdog is being billed as one of the most comprehensive biographical documentaries ever made about an NFL quarterback. According to the streaming giant, the film is not just about touchdowns and trophies; it’s a deep dive into the man behind the myth.

From Elway’s early days at Stanford University, to the infamous 1983 draft where he famously refused to play for the Baltimore Colts, to his grueling Super Bowl losses in the 1980s, the film captures the full arc of a career defined by resilience and reinvention.

“John Elway’s story is bigger than football,” said Edelman in a press release. “It’s about pressure, expectation, failure, and ultimately, legacy. He was dubbed ‘the next great thing’ from the moment he picked up a football—and he lived under that weight for decades. This film is about how he carried it, and what it cost him.”

A Career of Highs and Lows — Told in Elway’s Own Words

Perhaps most notable is that The Underdog features unprecedented access to John Elway himself, including never-before-seen interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and reflections from those closest to him—teammates, coaches, family members, and rivals alike.

Elway, now 64, opens up in a way he rarely has before. According to insiders who have seen early cuts of the film, the quarterback delves into everything from his strained relationship with his late father Jack Elway, to the emotional toll of repeated Super Bowl failures, to the relentless expectations placed on him as the face of the Denver Broncos for nearly two decades.

“I’ve always let my play do the talking,” Elway says in the trailer. “But there’s more to my story than what happened on the field.”

He goes on to reflect candidly on the “three Super Bowl blowouts” that haunted his career for years, and how walking away without a title once seemed inevitable.

“People called me the best to never win one. That hurt. Because they didn’t know how hard I tried to change that.”

From Failure to Redemption: The Glory Years

Of course, The Underdog also covers the most glorious chapters of Elway’s career—the back-to-back Super Bowl wins in the 1997 and 1998 seasons, his legendary helicopter spin against the Green Bay Packers, and his fairy-tale retirement on top of the football world.

The documentary paints these triumphs not as inevitabilities, but as the culmination of years of personal and professional evolution. Elway’s partnership with head coach Mike Shanahan, his relationship with running back Terrell Davis, and his role in shaping a team-first mentality are all central themes.

Broncos legend and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, who appears in the documentary, summed it up this way:

“People think of Elway and see the wins. But what made John great was how he handled the losses. He kept coming back. And when he finally broke through, he did it for all of us.”

Beyond the Field: Elway the Executive, Father, and Businessman

While much of The Underdog focuses on Elway’s playing career, the film doesn’t stop when he hangs up his cleats.

The final chapters explore his complex post-playing legacy—as a businessman, Broncos executive, and local icon. His role in constructing the 2015 Super Bowl-winning team as Denver’s general manager is examined with fresh insight, including rare footage from war room draft discussions and candid commentary about his approach to leadership.

The documentary also delves into his public and private struggles—including criticism over quarterback decisions post-Peyton Manning, personal loss, and the challenge of transitioning out of the spotlight.

“You go from hearing 80,000 fans chanting your name to silence. That’s hard,” Elway admits in one emotional moment.

A Soundtrack of Nostalgia and Power

Complementing the film’s narrative is a powerful original score from Academy Award-winning composer Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, bringing emotional weight to pivotal moments. From the youthful exuberance of Elway’s draft day, to the crushing defeat in Super Bowl XXIV, to his triumphant final game, the music helps paint a rich emotional canvas.

The film also features a host of archival game footage restored in stunning 4K, bringing a fresh visual vibrancy to moments etched in NFL lore.

Release Date, Runtime, and Viewing Details

Netflix has confirmed that “The Underdog” will premiere globally on September 15, 2025, just in time for the start of the NFL season.

The documentary will be a feature-length film with a runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes, available to stream in over 190 countries and subtitled in more than 30 languages.

A limited theatrical release is also being planned in select U.S. cities, including Denver, Los Angeles, and New York, with special panel events featuring Elway and director Ezra Edelman.

Reception and Expectations

Early reactions from industry insiders suggest that The Underdog may follow in the footsteps of other successful sports documentaries such as The Last Dance (Michael Jordan), Man in the Arena (Tom Brady), and Quarterback (Netflix’s 2023 hit series).

“This has the potential to be Netflix’s biggest football documentary to date,” said media analyst Olivia Graham. “Elway’s story appeals to both older fans who lived through the 80s and 90s, and younger viewers discovering his legacy for the first time.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised the project in a statement, calling it “a tribute to one of the league’s greatest ambassadors, and a reminder that the path to greatness is rarely smooth.”

Final Thoughts: The Legacy of an ‘Underdog’

Despite being one of the most statistically dominant quarterbacks in NFL history, Elway’s story has always had a strange paradox: that of the underdog who carried impossible expectations.

In redefining his narrative through The Underdog, Elway reminds fans and critics alike that success is rarely linear. His journey is one of perseverance, personal growth, and ultimately, triumph—not just in football, but in life.

As the film’s final trailer line proclaims: