Best Broncos to Ever Wear the Jersey Number: 0-9

As we await training camp, here are the best Denver Broncos to wear jersey numbers 0-9.

Recently, USA Today presented its list of the best NFL players to wear a particular jersey number, a list that included four former Denver Broncos players: John Elway (7), Peyton Manning (18), Terrell Davis (30), and Gary Zimmerman (65).

As we approach the 2023 NFL season, let's have some fun and look at who were the best Broncos to ever wear each jersey number, from 0 to 99.

I used Pro Football Reference's 'Approximate Value' to determine most of the selections. In a few cases, I selected more than one player, whether they were tied in PFR AV or there is more than one player who holds significance to the team's history.

In this first installment of the series, looking at numbers 0 to 9, you will find one of the players mentioned on the USA Today list, along with a host of punters of kickers, and at least one player you may have never known about.

No. 0: Johnny Olszewski | FB

There are just two players to have worn jersey number 0 for the Broncos. One was Kahani Smith, who was with the team for a part of the 2019 offseason but was released at the start of training camp.

The other player had a 10-year career in pro football. Olszewski, a fullback, entered the NFL in 1953 and played five seasons for the Chicago Cardinals. He then played for Washington for the next three seasons, then for the Detroit Lions in 1961, his ninth season.

Olszewski then joined the Broncos in 1962 when the team was entering its third season in the American Football League. Olszewski rushed for 114 yards on 33 carries in 12 games.

No. 1: Jason Elam | K

For fans who know their history, this should come as no surprise. Elam is arguably the best kicker to ever suit up for the Broncos. A third-round pick in the 1993 NFL draft, Elam went on to play 15 seasons with the Broncos. 

Elam made 395-of-490 field goals, including 37-of-61 attempts of 50 yards or more. His longest successful try was for 63 yards in 1998 — at the time, that tied the record for the longest field goal in NFL history (Tom Dempsey).

After his departure from the franchise, Elam played two more seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He is a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, and rightfully so.

No. 2 (Tie): Patrick Surtain II | CB

Believe it or not, a player set to enter his third year in the NFL holds the distinction of being the best player, as measured by PFR AV, to wear No. 2.

It's hard to argue, though, that Surtain hasn't made an immediate impact. The 2021 first-round pick, he finished his rookie season with 14 passes defensed and four interceptions, including a pick-six. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.

In his second season, Surtain had 10 passes defensed and two interceptions — stats that no doubt declined because quarterbacks were reluctant to target him. Surtain landed his first Pro Bowl berth and was a first-team All-Pro selection. And to think the best may be yet to come.

No. 2 (tie): Mike Horan | P

If you'd rather go back into past seasons to find a player whose career is in the books, you can either look at Cookie Gilchrist, a six-year AFL veteran who played two seasons with the Broncos, or you can look to special teams.

Horan first entered the NFL in 1984 and spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He then signed with the Broncos in 1986 and spent the next seven years with the franchise.

While with the Broncos, Horan averaged 42.5 yards per punt with 107 punts inside the 20-yard line. In 1988, Horan was named to the Pro Bowl and received first-team All-Pro honors.

No. 3: Rich Karlis | K

You can go to recent history for a pair of quarterbacks, Drew Lock and Russell Wilson, but the former didn't last, and the latter is coming off a disappointing season.

But we'll go with somebody from the past who holds significance in Broncos history. Karlis spent seven seasons with the Broncos, making 172-of-239 attempts, including six of 18 from 50 yards or more.

Karlis may best be remembered for the game-winning field goal against the Cleveland Browns in the 1986 AFC championship game, the same game that featured 'The Drive.' Karlis' game-winner sealed the deal for the Broncos.

No. 4: Britton Colquitt | P

Just seven players have worn No. 4 in Broncos history, with quarterbacks Case Keenum and Brett Rypien the most recent to do so. But for the best player to wear the number, we have a punter.

Colquitt made his mark after signing with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played six seasons with the team, averaging 45.2 yards per punt.

The Broncos released Colquitt in 2016, and he played the next three seasons with the Browns. He finished his career with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

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No. 5: Matt Prater | K

There have been just five players to wear this number — among them are Joe Flacco, Teddy Bridgewater, and Randy Gregory. The fourth one would be Brad Daluiso, a kicker who had just one field goal attempt in the 1992 season.

But it's another kicker who holds the distinction of being the best player to wear that number. Prater was with the Broncos for two games in 2007, then won the placekicking job in 2008. He went on to hold that job through the 2013 season.

During his time with the Broncos, he was good on 141-of-170 attempts, with 21-of-27 for 50 yards or more, and made a 64-yard field goal in 2013, which set a new NFL record at the time. He also made the Pro Bowl that season, but was released in 2014, then played seven seasons for the Lions and two more for the Arizona Cardinals.

No. 6: Jay Cutler | QB

Current Broncos player PJ Locke has worn this number, and quarterbacks like Bubby Brister and Brock Osweiler have worn it as well. But it's another QB who spent three years with the Broncos who was the best to wear No. 6.

Cutler, a 2006 first-round pick, started five games as a rookie, taking the job from veteran Jake Plummer. The switch didn't propel the Broncos into the playoffs, though. Plummer was then traded, and Cutler was the starter in 2007 and 2008.

After a falling out when then-head coach Josh McDaniels, Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears in 2009, for whom he played the next eight seasons. He then finished his career with the Miami Dolphins in 2017. For his Broncos career, he passed for 1,220 yards with 54 touchdowns and 37 interceptions.

No. 7: John Elway | QB

We do need to give a nod to Craig Morton, who was the quarterback when the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl. We can also mention Mickey Slaughter, who played quarterback from 1963-66 when the Broncos were still in the NFL.

But, of course, there can only be one Bronco to be the best to ever wear No. 7. Elway was acquired in a post-draft trade with the Indianapolis Colts in 1983 after they took him with the No. 1 overall pick. As they say, the rest is history.

Elway played 16 seasons and threw for 51,475 yards with 300 touchdowns and 226 interceptions. He was named to nine Pro Bowls, received multiple first-team and second-team All-Pro honors, and was the QB for the Broncos in five Super Bowls, two of which they won and one in which he was named MVP. 

Elway was rightfully inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

No. 8: Brandon McManus | K

Four of the players to wear this number were quarterbacks: Gary Kubiak, Jeff Lewis, Tommy Maddox, and Kyle Orton. Kubiak may be the most loved of the four, while Orton was the best from a statistical standpoint.

However, it's the other player — a kicker — to wear this number who gets the nod. McManus was acquired by the Broncos in a 2014 trade with the New York Giants but had a shaky start and was even released during the season (though he was later re-signed).

But McManus won the kicking job in 2015 and held onto it for the next eight seasons, making 223-of-274 attempts, 40-of-72 for 50 yards or more, with his longest successful try being 61 yards. Though the Broncos have since released him, he was an integral part of the team's history, which includes being the kicker for the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50.

No. 9: David Treadwell | K

Just four players have worn this jersey number for the Broncos. One of them, punter Riley Dixon, was with the team for two seasons but is now back for 2023. Another, wideout Kendall Hinton, is still currently with the team. The other was Jeff Driskel, who was the backup QB in 2020.

The best player to wear the number, though, is a kicker. Treadwell joined the Broncos in 1989 and had a quality rookie season. He made 27-of-33 attempts and was named to the Pro Bowl.

Treadwell spent the next three seasons with the Broncos but parted ways with the team in 1993 after the team drafted Jason Elam. He played the next two seasons with the Giants.

In the next installment, we'll look at uniform numbers 10 through 19. 

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