Broncos Hall-of-Fame legend unmasked as ‘Leaf Sheep’ on ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 12

A man known by many as the “G.O.A.T.” of quarterback play in Colorado has unmasked himself as a different sort of animal.

In Wednesday night's season 12 premiere of “The Masked Singer,” legendary Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway was the first contestant eliminated from the show. Elway’s guise was that of the character “Leaf Sheep” where he wore a vibrant, yet adorable costume adorned in vibrant greens and purples.

A “leaf sheep”, whose scientific name is costasiella kuroshimae, is a type of sea slug. The species was first discovered in 1993 off the coast of Japan and resides in tropical habitats, according to scientists.

“Now these days, I’m a little sluggish,” Elway said in his preview voiceover of the character. “But you should have seen me in my prime. I made a total splash. Scored headlines, topped the country’s charts and even revived a franchise. And now, I’m here to keep the good times rolling.”

Former Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware, known for his role as the Koala in season 11, previously hinted that Leaf Sheep was someone he "crossed paths with" and regarded as a "GOAT." Ware, a former NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys and Broncos, also referenced a quarter as a clue, which show judge Thicke interpreted as potentially pointing to a "quarterback."

The song which Elway chose to perform was a version of Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It,” which garnered mixed reviews on social media.

“I just knew the Leaf Sheep Would go home first. It's clear he's more of an athlete and not a singer,” said one X user, Katie Depperschmidt.

Social media users incorrectly guessed that the man underneath the mask was possibly former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw or Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson.

One of the show’s judges, comedian Ken Jeong — known for typically and hilariously guessing the identities of contestants incorrectly — was the only one who correctly guessed Elway this time around. The other judges made incorrect guesses, with Jenny McCarthy suggesting Tom Brady, Rita Ora mentioning Billy Bob Thornton, and Robin Thicke guessing Troy Aikman.

On the show, Elway was asked by host Nick Cannon why he joined the show to which Elway responded, “That’s a good question; I’m not sure. I was definitely not in my comfort zone doing this, but you know, I’m in retirement now and had the opportunity — took advantage of it.”

Elway also gave a nod to his grandchildren.

“It’s great to be here, I had a great time, and I think all the grandkids are gonna be happy to see Poppy jump out of the Leaf Sheep,” Elway told Cannon.

"The Masked Singer" broadcasts on FOX every Wednesday night. Viewers can catch up on past episodes through Hulu, FOX.com, Tubi, or On Demand.