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John Elway uses official Broncos letterhead to write Neil Gorsuch a recommendation letter

“Neil is a big Denver Broncos fan,” he notes.

John Elway at a press conference on January 12, 2017. CREDIT: AP Photo/David Zalubowski
John Elway at a press conference on January 12, 2017. CREDIT: AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Nobody tells John Elway to stick to sports.

On Monday, Elway — the NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback, and current Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager of the Denver Broncos — used official Broncos letterhead to urge members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to confirm the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

Elway praised Gorsuch for his “tremendous intelligence, character, and fairness” as well as his “sound moral compass.”

He ended the letter by noting that, “Neil is a big Denver Broncos fan, and I can tell you that I’m a big fan of his.”

Elway’s recommendation letter was reported by Peter Marcus, the Senior Statehouse Reporter for Colorado Politics.

This isn’t the first time Elway spoke out on behalf of a conservative cause. In 2014, he ran ads supporting a pro-fracking amendment, and denouncing amendments that would raise the minimum wage and create a state healthcare system. He is a proponent of gun rights and an opponent of “safety nets.”

He even went to President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony this January.

However, putting the recommendation on official Broncos letterhead, and invoking the spirit of the team while doing so, is likely to bother fans who feel that Gorsuch doesn’t represent their values.

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Gorsuch would be one of the most conservative members of the Supreme Court if confirmed; the New York Times puts him just to the left of Clarence Thomas. He was an adamant supporter of President George W. Bush’s torture program, and is staunchly against Planned Parenthood — and, it seems, abortion as a whole. He also wants to consolidate judiciary power.

His confirmation hearing began on Monday. There is no word on who, exactly, was waiting for Elway to officially weigh in before making this decision. But, reportedly, Elway’s support meant a lot to Gorsuch.

“In Colorado today there is God and John Elway and Peyton Manning,” he said during his opening statements, as reported by NBC News.