Case Keenum was going to have to change his number. We knew that much.
After wearing No. 7 in Minnesota last season (and in his first stint with the Texans), the newest Broncos quarterback didn’t have the option to keep it because his new boss, GM John Elway, sent that one to the rafters with a Hall-of-Fame career in Denver.
Keenum could have opted for No. 17, which he wore in his second stint with the Texans and also with the Rams, but that number comes with some baggage in Denver. It was most recently worn by Brock Osweiler, whose rocky exit ahead of the 2016 season and sub-par play upon his return in 2017 didn’t exactly endear the number in the hearts of Broncos Country.
So, when Keenum announced Thursday that he had selected No. 4 to be his jersey number in Denver, he put himself on the fast track to being the best to wear that number in team history.
The list of No. 4’s in Broncos history is a short and relatively undistinguished one.
Of the eight men who have donned No. 4 for the Broncos, only three have played for more than one season in Denver. Of those three, only one contributed to any kind of success.
Denver Broncos No. 4 All-Time Roster History
Austin Davis — QB — 2016
Britton Colquitt — P — 2009-15
Darrell Hackney — QB — 2007-08
Micah Knorr — P/K — 2002-04
Ruben Rodriguez — P — 1992
Chris Norman — P –1986
Robert Thompson — WR — 1987
Rick Duncan — K — 1967
Britton Colquitt wore No. 4 for his six full seasons in Denver from 2010-15 (the Broncos signed him for one game in 2009. It was his number in five consecutive playoff seasons, including in the Super Bowl 50 win in 2015. Colquitt was consistently one of the top punters in the league during his tenure in Denver, both in gross and net punting average. He also was the holder for numerous Broncos kickers during that time.
And that about sums up the résumé for the greatest No. 4 in Broncos history to date.
As a quarterback, Keenum basically only needs to lead the Broncos to the playoffs once and he’ll immediately leapfrog Colquitt and the rest of the bunch.
He’s already off to a good start endearing himself to the fan base. In photos he posted to Twitter on Thursday of his contract signing, he also included a shot of himself as a child wearing a Denver Broncos No. 7 uniform.
Not a bad way to flatter the new boss, either.
#BroncosCountry I can honestly say I’ve been preparing my whole life for this!!! Couldn’t be more excited to be a Denver Bronco!! LETS GO!!! pic.twitter.com/JpoiynTkOU
— Case Keenum (@casekeenum) March 15, 2018