All About His Son and Daughters

Legendary Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway “sacrificed everything” to be one of the best players in the NFL and take home three Super Bowl rings, but these days his top priority is being a dad to his four kids: Jessica, Jordan, Jack and Juliana.

During the 1983 NFL draft, John was selected as the No. 1 pick by the then-Baltimore Colts (now the Indianapolis Colts). He was later traded to the Broncos, where he spent 15 years as the team’s starting quarterback, a tenure marked by both ups and downs.

John was married to his first wife, Janet Buchan, throughout this time. The college sweethearts wed in 1984 and welcomed four children before eventually divorcing in 2003. According to one of his daughters, the family also felt the pressure of the game. “Depending on whether he won or lost, there was definitely a mood shift,” she said in the trailer for Netflix’s Elway documentary, which premiered on Dec. 22.

Since retiring from the football field, John’s relationships with his kids have strengthened. “As proud as we are of my dad, we’d be just as proud if he had not made the Hall of Fame,” his oldest child, Jessica, said in a 2004 Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony speech. “I can’t tell you how much he has taught us about life.”

These days, John is retired and focuses more on family than anything else. He spends his days going on trips and working on his 7Cellars wine brand, who inspired it. The former professional athlete also remarried to his wife, Paige Green.

Here’s everything to know about John Elway’s kids: Jessica, Jordan, Jack and Juliana.

Jessica Elway

John and Janet became parents for the first time when they welcomed their daughter Jessica Elway.

As the oldest child, John and Jessica have always shared a special bond. She introduced him at his 2004 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction — the first daughter of an athlete to do so.

“When we look at my dad, we see a different man than everyone else sees,” Jessica said. “He has taught us to be leaders, to set goals, to dream and to never, ever, ever make excuses. Above all, he has taught us to be tough.”

She continued, “No one knows more than his children how tough my dad is, how competitive he is, how badly he wanted to win those Super Bowls.”

While growing up outside of the spotlight, Jessica followed in her father’s athletic footsteps after high school. She attended her parents’ alma mater, Stanford University, where she played basketball.

“When [your kids] make a great play, it’s almost more satisfying than doing it yourself,” John told the Associated Press (via the Vail Daily) in 2007. “My oldest daughter, Jess, was a basketball player, and she used to be just as much fun to watch as [my son] Jack.”

After college, Jessica worked as a teacher for several years, and today, she is in the medical industry, according to her LinkedIn. She married in 2015, per a Stanford alumni blog.

Jordan Elway

Jessica was followed by John and Janet’s second daughter, Jordan.

Jordan is the most private of John’s children, with few details known about her. She was last reported to be married with a daughter named Addie.

John’s granddaughter had a near-drowning incident, as detailed in a now-deleted YouTube video from 2019.

“Proud of my daughter Jordan and her husband Austin for having the courage to share their story,” John said at the time on X. “Glad to help them spread the word about the importance of water safety for children. Their daughter Addie survived and recovered from a near drowning in April.”

Jack Elway

John and Janet welcomed their third child and only son, Jack.

John coached his son’s different football teams starting from elementary school and on, telling the Associated Press in 2007 that he “wanted to get back close to it and be close to him.”

“To me, it was important to be around Jack. I had played too long to not at least be able to give him some of my knowledge that I had gained over the years of playing and that I had gained from my dad,” he shared, referring to college football coach Jack Elway Sr.

John continued, “I would have been kicking myself if I hadn’t done it. It was really a chance for me to get to know him better.”

He was able to lead his son to a football scholarship at Arizona State University, but after a year on the team, Jack ultimately decided football wasn’t for him.

“He sounds better. Just talking to him, it’s like the world has been lifted off his shoulders. So I’m happy for him,” John told The Denver Post in 2009.

Though John believed in his son’s “talent,” he understood that it wasn’t his passion.

“As I told him when we were talking about it, ‘You know, if you don’t love the game of football, it’s too hard. It’s physical, and it’s a brutal sport. You have to absolutely love it,’ ” he recalled.

Afterward, Jack continued studying at ASU and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Now, he works at a marketing agency, according to his LinkedIn. Jack is also involved with a luxury custom hat company called Mint Tradition.

He and John seem to spend lots of quality time together, including going on hunting trips and golfing.

Juliana Elway

John’s youngest child is daughter Juliana, who is a teacher and runs a permanent jewelry business called Mile High Linked.

John posts about Juliana most frequently, often quipping that she is his “favorite youngest daughter.” He has also shared pictures with her at Christmastime, attending a Kenny Chesney concert and visiting her classroom in 2018.

“So proud of my daughter and all the hard work she does teaching these kiddos,” he wrote at the time.

Although Juliana’s Instagram account is private, it mentions that she lives in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Speaking to the Associated Press in 2007, John described her as “a socialite.”

“She never really got into the sports, which is fine,” he said. “She wants to be in tennis, and I tell her all the time, ‘You don’t have to be in sports, you’re just a sweetheart as you are.’ ”