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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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Terrell Davis
25 Jan 1998: Terrell Davis #30 of the Denver Broncos in action during the NFL Super Bowl XXXII Game against the Green Bay Packers at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Broncos defeated the Packers 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport /

No. 30

Legendary player who wore it: Terrell Davis

Player to wear it next: Mike Bell

Player currently wearing it: Phillip Lindsay

Behind Elway, Terrell Davis is probably the next-best player in the history of the Broncos. Without him, it’s entirely possible that the Broncos don’t win either Super Bowl XXXII or XXXIII and may not have even played in them.

Davis is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his No. 30 is still worn to this day.

Though Phillip Lindsay, who was given the blessing of Davis to wear No. 30 before he did, hopes to restore the greatness of the number in Denver. It also showed the respect Lindsay had for Davis, requesting that number, as it was not the number he wore during his college playing days.

The first player to wear No. 30 for the Broncos following his retirement in 2002 was another running back, Mike Bell. Davis was a sixth-round pick of the team who came out of nowhere to become a star and perhaps Mike Shanahan was hoping for something similar in Bell, who was undrafted by the team out of Arizona.

Bell actually began his career in Denver as No. 20 before switching to 30 the following season. In 2007, the year he was wearing 30, he played in only five games for the team and put up paltry stats. He was gone the following season.

In 2008, a running back by the name of Cory Boyd was assigned No. 30 but he had a very brief stint with the team.

Starting in 2009, No. 30 went to David Bruton who fell far short of making the kind of impact that Davis did but still represented the number well.

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