Thirteen players wore #75 for the Denver Broncos in team history. Six Offensive Tackles, four Defensive Ends, two Defensive Tackles an a Guard. I'm sure most of you already have a name and a vision that stirs in your mind when #75 is mentioned in concordance with the Denver Broncos. Some numbers are like that. This one isn't any different and it won't surprise you at all. However, there are a few other players in Broncos franchise history that have stories of there own and it would be unfair not to include them. So dive across the kine of scrimmage (the jump) and I'll meet you in the end zone. Here are the candidates.
Chris Clark T 2010-Present
Chris Baker DT 2009
Adam Meadows RT 2006
Monsanto Pope DT 2002-05
Brian Habib RG 1993-97
Rulon Jones DE 1980-88
Kit Lathrop DE 1979
Bill Bain LT 1976, ‘78
Ed Smith DE 1973-75
Rick Sharp T 1972
Roger Shoals LT 1971
Rex Mirich DE 1967-69
Eldon Danenhauer RT 1960-65
Rex Mirich was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 20th round (153rd overall) of the 1963 AFL Draft and the Minnesota Vikings in the 16th round (212th overall) of the 1963 NFL Draft. Rex chose the Raiders and played with them for 3 years. He arrived in Denver after the 1966 season and played another 3 years for the Broncos from 1967-69. Mirich played both Left Defensive Tackle and End, starting 12 of 34 games. He registered one Fumble recovery in 1967.
Rick Sharp was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 12th round (288th overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft. He played 2 seasons for the Steelers before joining the Broncos in 1972 and appearing in 12 games.
Roger Shoals was drafted by the Dallas Texans in the 34th round (267th overall) of the 1962 AFL Draft and the Cleveland Browns in the 16th round (223rd overall) of the 1961 NFL Draft. Roger opted to play for the Browns and spent 2 years there. He spent the next 6 years in Detroit with the Lions until becoming a Bronco in 1971. That year, Roger started all 14 games at Left Tackle.
Ed Smith was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 13th round (319th overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft out of Colorado College. He started 3 of 16 games in 1973-74 for the Broncos and one interception and one Fumble recovery.
Chris Baker went Undrafted out of Hampton University. In 2009, he signed with the Broncos. Baker played all 4 games during the Pre-season, with 4 Tackles and 1 Sack. He made the 53-man roster as the 3rd string Nose Tackle, but was Inactive most of the year. His only game action came in a Week 9 loss to the Steelers. The Broncos waived Chris in September 2010 and the Miami Dolphins signed him to their Practice Squad on October 7th. He was activated on November 26th and played in Week 12 against the Raiders. He is currently a Free Agent.
Chris Clark went Undrafted out of Southern Mississippi. He spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons on the Minnesota Vikings' Practice Squad after competing in Training Camp with Tampa Bay in 2008. Chris was awarded to the Broncos via wavers from the Vikings on Sept. 5, 2010. He finally made his NFL debut in Week 10, lining up as a Tackle-eligible on QB Tim Tebow's 1-yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter vs. Kansas City. Clark appeared in the final 8 games in the 2010 season.
Bill Bain was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 2nd round (47th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft. He arrived in Denver after his rookie year with the Packers. In 1976 Bain started 13 of 14 games at Left Tackle for the Broncos. There is no history on where he was during 1977, but Bill played in the first regular season game in 1978. In 1980, Bain played in Super Bowl XIV with the Los Angeles Rams.
Kit Lathrop went Undrafted out of Arizona State in 1978. Before he got into his first NFL game with the Denver Broncos, he had already been released by the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. He signed with the Denver Broncos in 1979 and played in the first 9 games, but was then let go. The Green Bay Packers signed him, keeping him for a year but releasing him prior to the 1981 season. Kit was also a Kansas City Chief and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Redskins in 1987. In the USFL, he played for the Chicago Blitz, the Arizona Wranglers, and the Arizona Outlaws.
Adam Meadows was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2nd round (48th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft. He spent 7 of his 8 year career with the Colts and joined the Broncos in 2006. Meadows played 3 games for Denver at Right Tackle.
Monsanto Pope was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 7th round (231st overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played 4 seasons with the Broncos from 2002-05. Monsanto started 21 of 48 games, making 62 Tackles, 6 Sacks, 3 Pass deflections and one Forced Fumble. His best year was in 2004, when he started 15 games at Right Defensive Tackle, making 24 Tackles, 1 Sack and 2 Pass deflections.
Eldon Danenhauer went Undrafted out of Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, Kansas). He played his entire 6-year career with the Denver Broncos from 1960-65. An AFL All-Star in 1962 and 1965, Danenhauer appeared in 79 games at Right Tackle and also returned one kickoff 11 yards.
Brian Habib was drafted by the Vikings in the 10th round (264th overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft. He spent 4 years in Minnesota before joining the Broncos in 1993. Brian played 5 seasons in Denver from 1993-97 and was a part of the Broncos Super Bowl XXXII Championship. He started all 78 games at Right Guard and recovered a Fumble in 1994. After his term with the Broncos was finished. Habib played 2 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. He currently is an Offensive Line coach for Del Norte High School in Poway, CA.
Rulon Jones was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 2nd round (42nd overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 9-year career with the Broncos from 1980-88. He started 99 of 129 games primarily at the Right Defensive End position, recording 52.5 official quarterback Sacks. Sacks were not an official stat in Rulon's first two years, when he had 11.5 in 1980 and 9.5 in 1981. Otherwise he has 72.5 career Sacks.
- 2-Time Super Bowl starter (XXI, XXII)
- 2-Time Pro Bowler (1985, 1986)
- 1st-Team All-Pro (1986)
He now owns and operates the Broadmouth Canyon Ranch Personal hunting guides in Idaho and Utah.
MHR gives a Mile High Salute to Rulon Jones as the Greatest Bronco to wear #75.
Go Broncos!