Six past players and one current player have donned #96 for the Denver Broncos. Four Defensive Ends, three Defensive Tackles and one that hasn't defined a role for himself yet. Here is the lineup for the Greatest Bronco to wear #96.
Mitch Unrein DL Present
Tim Crowder DE 2007-08
Michael Myers DT 2005-06
Dorsett Davis DT 2002-04
Harald Hasselbach DE 1994-2000
Kenny Walker DE 1991-92
Jake McCullough DE 1989-90
Mitch Unrein (UN-rhine), the current owner of the #96 jersey, is a rookie Defensive Lineman who spent the 2010 preseason with Houston after being signed by the Texans as a Undrafted College Free Agent out of Wyoming. He has 2 preseason games experience with one Tackle.
Jake McCullough was drafted by the Broncos in the 4th round (97th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft. He spent 2 seasons in Denver and appeared in 16 games.
Kenny Walker was drafted by the Broncos in the 8th round (200th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played 2 seasons in Denver, starting 16 of 31 games at Right Defensive End. Walker contributed 4.5 Sacks and 2 Fumble Recoveries in 1991-92.
Dorsett Davis was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 3rd round (96th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. Davis was on the inactive list for all 16 games in 2002. After attending strength coach Rich Tuten's workouts in the off-season, Dorsett was expected to become an impact player. That never happened. Davis played in 14 games during the 2003 season, with 10 Tackles and one pass deflection. He didn't play a regular season game again in the NFL. Dorsett missed the entire 2004 season with a torn tendon in his left pinkie. The team doctors decided it was best to have surgery immediately to prevent the loss of his finger. The Broncos waived Davis at the end of Training Camp on September 3, 2005. He had a tryout with the Dolphins that November, but they did not sign him. He last played for the Edmonton Eskimos in 2006.
Tim Crowder was drafted by the Broncos in the 2nd round (56th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played 2 years in Denver from 2007-08. Crowder had one start in 19 ganes, with 18 Tackles, 4 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble and 2 Fumble recoveries. He returned one Fumble 50 yards for a score during a Week 7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tim's touchdown gave the Broncos a 21-7 lead at the half. Crowder went on to play 2 more seasons after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Michael Myers was drafted by the Cowboys in the 4th round (100th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played 6 seasons in Dallas until his release on October 7, 2003. Myers signed with the Browns as a Free Agent on November 12, 2003 and spent 2 years in Cleveland. On March 30, 2005 Michael and Ebenezer Ekuban (EK-u-bon),were traded to the Broncos in exchange for Reuben Droughns. Myers, along with Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren and Ekuban were known as the "Browncos," Mike Shanahan's absurd answer for failing to draft defensively. ESPN's Len Pasquarelli called them the "Four Flops." It's safe to say that the experiment failed. That first year in Denver, Michael started 15 regular season games and two playoff games including the AFC Championship game against the Steelers where he made 7 Tackles and one Sack. He posted a career-best 57 tackles in 2006. As a Bronco, Myers started 31 of 32 games at Left Defensive Tackle. He contributed 88 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 Forced Fumble and 3 Fumble Recoveries. The Broncos offered to re-sign Myers in March of 2007, but Michael chose the Bengals and inked a 2-year deal worth $1.65 million on April 20, 2007. He only played one year in Cincinnati.
This one has another clear-cut winner. The Greatest Bronco to wear #96 is...
Harald Hasselbach
Harald Hasselbach signed with the Denver Broncos in 1994 after playing the previous 4 years with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, including a Grey Cup in 1992. He was also named a CFL All-Star in 1993. Hasselbach played 7 seasons in the NFL from 1994-2000; all with the Broncos. Harald started 29 of 112 games, with 154 Tackles, 17.5 Sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles and 4 recovered Fumbles. He won two championship rings and started Super Bowl XXXIII for Denver. He is one of the few players to have been a part of a winning team in a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl.
Hasselbach currently runs the photography template website Blu Domain.
MHR gives a Mile High Salute to Harald Hasselbach as the Greatest Bronco to wear #96.
Go Broncos!