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Denver Broncos: 5 legendary jersey numbers players have failed to live up to

By Travis Wakeman

Denver Bronco's tight end Shannon Sharpe celebrates after catching the game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Elway in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs 06 December at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO. Denver rallied for two touchdowns in the final seven minutes for a 35-31 victory over Kansas City to extend their winning streak to 18 games, including last year's playoffs. AFP PHOTO/Mark LEFFINGWELL (Photo by MARK LEFFINGWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Denver Bronco's tight end Shannon Sharpe celebrates after catching the game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Elway in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs 06 December at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO. Denver rallied for two touchdowns in the final seven minutes for a 35-31 victory over Kansas City to extend their winning streak to 18 games, including last year's playoffs. AFP PHOTO/Mark LEFFINGWELL (Photo by MARK LEFFINGWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 31: Terrell Davis #30 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl XXXIII January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Broncos won the game 35-19. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 31: Terrell Davis #30 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl XXXIII January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Broncos won the game 35-19. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

There are a handful of legendary jersey numbers for the Denver Broncos, but when they are left unretired, it gives players a chance to come in and wear them again.

The Broncos have a history of great players as rich as any team in the league but to this day, only three jersey numbers are retired — No.7, 44, and 18.

The No. 18 jersey was retired following the career of Frank Tripucka, the Broncos’ quarterback during their early AFL days. He spent four seasons with the team and threw the first touchdown pass in AFL history.

In 1986, he was part of the first class of players to be entered onto the Broncos’ Ring of Fame. When the team signed Peyton Manning as a free agent in 2012, Tripucka granted the team his permission for Manning to wear that jersey, the same number he wore for many seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

No. 7 is retired and that should surprise no one. John Elwa is the best player in the history of the franchise and no one should ever wear that number again.

Floyd Little‘s No. 44 jersey was retired following his playing career in 1975. The No. 6 overall pick of the 1967 draft, Little played nine seasons with the Broncos, retiring as the team’s all-time leading rusher. That record held up for well over 20 seasons until it was broken by Terrell Davis.

Little was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2010.

But what about the great numbers that players can still use to this day? That will be the focus here. These numbers went from legendary to forgettable when a different player put it on.

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