Case Keenum Finally Finds a True Believer in John Elway, the Jerry West of Football: Bond (and Starter Guarantee) Means as Much as Life-Changing $36 Million Contact for UH Icon

For once, Case Keenum does not need to wait and prove himself against all odds. For once, Keenum does not have to wait, bide his time or bite his tongue.

John Elway made sure of it. The QB legend turned difference-making general manager — the closet thing in football to Jerry West — declared Case Keenum the Denver Broncos starting quarterback when he introduced him.

That is a welcome change, one more than well earned by Keenum. It’s the kind of moment any football-obsessed little Texas kid envisions in a dreamy, far-off fantasy land.

“I fulfilled my dream of being introduced by John Elway as Broncos quarterback,” Keenum says on introduction day, in an event nationally televised by both ESPN and the NFL Network.

Growing up in West Texas, Keenum kept a John Elway poster on his wall. He wore Elway’s No. 7 through his record-shattering University of Houston career and four different NFL stops (Houston, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Minnesota). Now, he’ll switch to No. 4 (Elway’s No. 7 is obviously Broncos retired). He even dressed up as Elway for Halloween a few years. (Keenum posted the adorable kid Halloween photos to prove it).

But this isn’t some kid stumbling upon a golden ticket. Keenum more than earned his new two-year, $36 million contract, which includes a hefty $25 million guaranteed in year one. In fact, Keenum battled doubters, dismissers, the anti University of Houston mafia at local sports radio station 610 AM, waffling coaches obsessed with QB height and more to get it.

Having John Elway back you is the ultimate validation, the job well done that too many Keenum critics (here’s looking at you FS1’s Nick Wright) still refuse to give him.

Keenum with Elway is the perfect fit. One gunslinger can understood another, one winner can bond with another.

In truth, Case Keenum always has had a lot of Elway in his game.

The 30-year-old Keenum doesn’t have anything close to the pure physical gifts of Elway. The howitzer arm. The fleet feet. The sheer size. They are all things Keenum cannot match.

But the cool composure, the nerve to pull off late comebacks, the ability to inspire teammates… Keenum has all that.

This is Keenum’s moment, his chance with a still largely Super Bowl worthy defense. It’s his chance to team up with Elway, the NFL’s ultimate winner, one of the rare star players turned star general managers in the history of sports.

Keenum finished second in both completion percentage (68 percent) and QBR in the entire NFL last year. All the stats prove that he played like one of the top quarterbacks in the league. But Mike Zimmer, the Minnesota Vikings’ stubborn old school coach, never fully believed in or embraced Keenum.

Zimmer hesitated and hesitated to officially name Keenum the permanent starting quarterback even as Keenum’s teammates rallied around him and jumped on board for a magical season.

John Elway’s Staunch Belief

Elway is already embracing Keenum from day one. Yes, he botched Keenum’s last name for a moment, calling him Case Keesum before quickly correcting himself. But the real support — and the message — couldn’t be obscured by a slip of the tonuge. John Elway truly believes.

That’s a huge difference. That’s what Keenum worked so hard to reach. Of course, $36 million provides a world of security to Keenum and his wife Kimberly too.

“To have a team pursue me to be their guy, that means everything,” Keenum says. “I’m ready to be that guy.”

It’s a great story. Small-town Texas kid rewrites the record book at UH, somehow still goes undrafted and makes it all the way from completely discarded (Gary Kubiak is the only coach who bothered to call the undrafted free agent) to the Broncos’ 36 Million Dollar Man, anointed by John Elway himself.

It’s a great story. But Case Keenum is only getting started.

“I plan on earning everything I get,” he says. “Fighting every step of the way.”

It’s gotten him this far — where many didn’t think he could ever be.