There’s a new No. 87 in town.
Noah Fant, the team’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, will wear jersey No. 87, the same number he wore in college. The Denver Broncos announced the tight end’s number choice on social media last week.
The number was last worn by former Broncos wide receiver Jordan “Sunshine” Taylor from 2016-2018. Before that, ex-Denver wide receiver Eric Decker wore the number from 2010-2013.
The number was most famously worn by former Broncos receivers Ed McCaffrey (1995-2003) and Lionel Taylor (1960-1966) as well as by retired linebacker Rich Jackson (1967-1972). Modern jersey rules would not allow a linebacker to wear the number today.
It’s probably fitting that some of the most notable Denver players to wear the number were wide receivers. Fant is a tight end but he often plays like a wide receiver, drawing comparisons to receiver/tight end hybrid Jimmy Graham.
Fant made it clear during his introductory press conference though that, comparisons aside, he’s simply a tight end.
“I would consider myself a tight end, through and through,” Fant said. “I love blocking, I love catching touchdowns and I love doing whatever is asked of me. I would definitely consider myself a tight end.”
He’s going to look good in an orange and blue uniform.
