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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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No. 77

Legendary player who wore it: Karl Mecklenburg

Player to wear it next: Tony Jones

Player currently wearing it: Kyle Peko

The 1983 NFL draft is arguably the greatest draft in the history of the NFL. That is the same draft in which the Broncos were able to trade for Elway after he refused to play for the team that drafted him, the Baltimore Colts.

But in that same draft, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg somehow lasted until round 12. Yes, the twelfth round.

Mecklenburg was one of the more consistent defensive players in team history, logging over 1,100 tackles and posting 79.5 sacks. He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and was named First-Team All-Pro four times.

His No. 77 jersey has never been worn with as much tenacity and will to win since his retirement in 1994 following a brilliant 12-year career.

It wasn’t until the 1997 season when another Bronco chose to put that jersey number on.

Tony Jones signed with the Broncos as an offensive tackle at the tail end of his career. He had played with the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens franchise before signing with the Broncos for the last four years of his career.

He wasn’t a bad player by any stretch, he even made the Pro Bowl in 1998 while being part of two Super Bowl-winning teams. He just wasn’t Mecklenburg. Who was?

Following Jones, the players wearing No. 77 got gradually worse. Larry Birdine, Dylan Gandy and Brandon Gorin, just to name a few. Who? Exactly.

Kyle Peko, who is in his second stint with the team, has his work cut out for him to make the jersey number respectable again.

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