Best Broncos to Ever Wear the Jersey Number: 30-39

As we await training camp, here are the best Denver Broncos to wear jersey numbers 30-39.

USA Today recently 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, Peyton Manning, Terrell Davis, and Gary Zimmerman.

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.

This installment covers numbers 30 through 39, which includes a few Broncos who were significant to the franchise's history to some degree, one of them a Hall-of-Famer.

No. 30: Terrell Davis | RB

Players such as Steve Sewell, David Bruton, and Phillip Lindsay have worn this number, but the one who was the greatest ever to wear 30 should come as no surprise at all.

A 1995 sixth-round pick, Davis made a key tackle on special teams in a preseason game, which led to him getting a shot as the starting running back. From there, Davis made a strong impact on the Broncos, which allowed them to win two Super Bowls and his eventual induction into the Hall of Fame.

Davis earned three Pro Bowl bids, three All-Pro awards and, in 1998, was named NFL MVP after surpassing 2,000 yards rushing. Though his career was cut short because of injuries, Davis left his mark in a short time, finishing with 7,607 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns in seven seasons.

No. 31 (Tie): Mike Harden | CB/S

We have two defensive backs who share the honor of the best Bronco to wear No. 31. We start with a player who made his mark during the 1980s.

Harden, a fifth-round pick in 1980, didn't see much time on the field in his first three seasons. But in 1983, he became a starting cornerback and held onto it for the next five seasons. He made the switch to safety in 1988, his final season with the Broncos, and started all 16 games.

In his nine seasons with the Broncos, he finished with 38 interceptions and returned four for touchdowns. He played for the Raiders in 1990 and 1991 before retiring.

No. 31 (Tie): Justin Simmons | S

And now we come to the present for the other defensive back, a third-round pick in 2015 who has arguably become the face of the franchise.

Simmons was a depth player as a rookie but claimed a starting job in 2017 and has never relinquished it. He has 56 pass breakups in seven seasons, 27 interceptions, and one pick-six.

It will be interesting to see what Simmons does in the next two seasons. If he keeps making an impact, he'll cement himself as the clear best Bronco to wear No. 31.

No. 32: Jon Keyworth | RB

There are quite a few Broncos to have worn 32, but most of them are ones fans may not remember — perhaps they will remember Dre Bly, who was with the Broncos in 2007 and 2008.

However, longtime Broncos fans will likely remember Keyworth. A sixth-round pick by Washington in 1974, Keyworth didn't stick with that team, but he came to the Broncos and spent seven seasons with the franchise.

He rushed for 10 touchdowns as a rookie, then had 12 more as other players dominated the rushing attack. But the member of the Broncos' first Super Bowl team had another talent — he was a good singer. His hit record "Make Those Miracles Happen" became an unofficial theme song for the Broncos' historic 1977 season.

No. 33: Joe Dawkins | RB

Lots of Broncos players have worn this number but, again, you might not recognize the names. Some will remember Rod Bernstine and Gene Lang, who had brief stints with the team and were solid performers.

A running back from the 1970s got the nod simply by having the highest PFR AV. Dawkins was drafted by the Oilers in 1970, then was traded to the Broncos in 1971.

In his three seasons with Denver, Dawkins rushed for 949 yards and four touchdowns. He then played two seasons for the Giants before returning to the Oilers for his final season in 1976.

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No. 34: Tyrone Braxton | CB/S

A 12th-round pick in 1987 went on to become the best Broncos player to wear 34. What's interesting about this player is he had two separate stints with the team.

Braxton was active for just two games as a rookie, then was a depth player in his second season, but won a starting cornerback job in 1989 and had six interceptions, one a pick-six. He remained with the Broncos until 1993 before spending a season with the Dolphins.

Braxton then returned to the Broncos in 1995 and switched to safety, a position at which he earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 1996. A member of the Broncos' first two Super Bowl-winning teams, Braxton had 34 interceptions, four returned for touchdowns, in his 12 seasons with the Broncos.

No. 35: Lenny Walls | CB

Here's another number that many Broncos have worn, but few have left much of a mark. The one who had the highest PFR AV was an undrafted player who joined the Broncos in 2002.

Walls was a depth player as a rookie but became a starter in 2003. He had 15 pass breakups and one interception, plus one forced fumble.

But after the Broncos acquired Champ Bailey in a trade, Walls went back to being a depth player and saw less time on the field. His last season with the Broncos was 2005, and he spent one year with the Chiefs, then one year with the Rams, before his career ended.

No. 36: Billy Thompson | CB/S

It's no contest who was the best Broncos player to wear 36. Thompson was one of the best safeties to play the Broncos, second only to Steve Atwater.

A 1969 third-round pick, Thompson entered the NFL as a cornerback, and that's where he played his first four seasons with the Broncos. He made the switch to safety in 1973 and thrived.

Thompson had 40 interceptions in his 13 seasons, made three Pro Bowls, and received All-Pro honors in 1977, the same season the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl. He has rightly taken his place in the Broncos Ring of Fame.

No. 37: PJ Locke | S

This is a number in which plenty of players have worn it, but nobody stands out in terms of impact. The best player to wear this number, by PFR AV, is a current Broncos player.

Locke signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie in 2019, but he was waived at the end of training camp. He joined the Broncos late in the year, signed to the practice squad

Locke has stuck around with the team since then, spending the early part of 2020 on the practice squad before he made his way onto the active roster. He's become a quality depth player and is good on special teams, but it remains to be seen what he'll do this coming season.

No. 38: Mike Anderson | RB

Go back to the 2000s decade, and it seemed like any running back could have success in Mike Shanahan's office. The best player to wear No. 38 for the Broncos would be a prime example.

After the Broncos lost Olandis Gary to injury and Terrell Davis hadn't recovered from his injuries, Anderson claimed the starting job in 2000. A sixth-round pick, Anderson went on to rush for 1,487 yards on 297 carries with 15 touchdowns.

He stayed with the Broncos through 2005, before he was released, and tallied 3,822 yards rushing with 36 touchdowns while with Denver. Anderson then played two more seasons with the Ravens.

No. 39: Ray Crockett | CB

The best player to wear 39 joined the Broncos in the 1990s and became a key player on the team's first two Super Bowl wins to cap the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Crockett was a fourth-round pick by the Lions in 1989 and spent five seasons with them. He signed with the Broncos in 1994 and spent the next seven seasons with them.

During his time with the Broncos, he had 17 interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, and seven forced fumbles. After the 2000 season, Crockett played two seasons with the Chiefs before calling it a career.

In the next installment, we'll look at uniform numbers 40 to 49, but in the meantime, be sure to check out our 0 through 9 installment, as well as 10-19 and 20-29.

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