National Football League

Tripucka would unretire No. 18 for Peyton

Published Mar. 14, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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The only player to ever wear No. 18 for the Denver Broncos wants to make the jersey available again for Peyton Manning.

Maybe that will lure the four-time MVP to the Mile High City.

Frank Tripucka wore that number for three seasons in the early 1960s, when he was the first quarterback in club history.

After his tenure, the number was ceremonially retired.

But Tripucka is just fine with breaking it out of storage. The 84-year-old Tripucka said in a phone interview from his home in Woodland Park, N.J., that if Manning wants the number, ''He should have it. Let's give it to him.''

Well, there's still the tiny matter of the team signing Manning.

His whirlwind free-agency tour kicked off in Denver, but also has included visits with Arizona, Miami and Tennessee. Manning spent Wednesday meeting with the Titans.

''He's a great quarterback,'' Tripucka said. ''He gets the job done. That's the important thing. As the quarterback, you've got to get the job done.''

Tripucka certainly did.

Brought in to serve as a coach for the young quarterbacks on a burgeoning Broncos squad, Tripucka was quickly summoned into duty by the owner at the time, Bob Howsam.

At first, Tripucka was reluctant. A former standout at Notre Dame, his career was winding down after stints with Detroit, Chicago Cardinals and the Dallas Texans. He wanted to do some mentoring and then call it a career.

After all, he was sick of being hit.

''Still remember those hits,'' he said, laughing.

Eventually, Tripucka was talked into taking the reins and led the American Football League in passing (3,038 yards) during the 1960 season, which was the team's inaugural year. His 447 yards passing against Buffalo on Sept. 15, 1962, still remain one of the top marks in club history.

''I had a good career,'' he modestly said. ''I enjoyed it thoroughly.''

Tripucka's number is just one of three the Broncos have retired. The others belong to Hall of Famers John Elway (No. 7) and Floyd Little (No. 44).

''That was a pretty nice honor,'' said Tripucka, who was added to the team's Ring of Fame in 1986. ''But if Peyton wants the number, they should give it to him. They definitely should.''

These days, Tripucka is suffering from Alzheimer's. He has his good days and his bad.

This was a good one as he joked about his time in professional football.

The most fearsome hitter he ever encountered?

''The Chicago Bears,'' he said.

Which one?

''All of them!'' he cracked.

He also talked about his longtime friendship with former New York Yankees great Yogi Berra. The two live a short distance away from each other and used to play many rounds of golf together.

''He loved football. I loved baseball. That's it, we became friends,'' explained Tripucka, whose son, Kelly, was a two-time NBA All-Star during his 10-year career and is now a television analyst for the New York Knicks. ''Our families became friends.''

His wife of nearly 63 years is never far away. Randy Tripucka helps fill in the gaps when her husband's memory just can't quite recall all the details.

And when he says it would be an honor for Manning to wear No. 18, he's not alone.

His family also feels that way.

''He really would be very proud to have Manning wear his number,'' Randy Tripucka said. ''He'd have no problem at all. We'd be very proud for Manning to use it.''