Sacco Sez: The Broncos' retired uniform numbers

[Miles]

The most recent is Elway's, of course, which was retired accompanied by great public hoopla and announcement in 1999, the year immediately following his retirement.


It was of course a no-brainer to retire No. 7, and because only quarterbacks and kickers may wear single-digit numbers, that grouping of digits will always afford plenty of opportunities. The only two other Broncos to wear No. 7 before John were Ring of Famer Craig Morton and fellow quarterback Mickey Slaughter, who played here from 1963-66.


No. 44 is a great number, as repeat digit numerals tend to be, and two Broncos wore 44 before Floyd got here in 1967. They were reserve running back Bruce Starling in 1963 and cornerback Miller Farr, who wore it in 1965 before going on to All-American Football League status elsewhere.


But Little matched the greatness of previous backs to wear No. 44 at Syracuse, where he too went to college. Jim Brown and Ernie Davis both wore the number previously, and there are statues to all three backs on the Syracuse campus.


The greatness of Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little has been well documented, and his number was retired during a game against the Cleveland Browns on "Floyd Little Day" as his brilliant nine-year career was concluding.


Again, there was never a question or a doubt.


As we move back in time things become a bit more vague.


Frank Tripucka was brought to Denver by head coach Frank Filchock to coach the quarterbacks, but "The Tripper" was so much better than his charges that he not only took over the job, initially as a favor to Filchock, but played into the 1963 season. Tripucka became the first player in football history to pass for 3,000 yards in a season, and his teaming up with brilliant receiver Lionel Taylor was sometimes all there was to watch in the Broncos' offense.


Truly, that duo carried the Broncos' offense, along with all-purpose back and kicker Gene Mingo. All three are in the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.