Jon Heath, Broncos WireTue, November 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM UTC·1 min readAfter losing blocking tight end Nate Adkins to a knee injury earlier this season, the Denver Broncos brought in 41-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis, who was elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster for the team's last three games.
After Lewis signed with the Broncos, Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe said on his podcast that he thought the Broncos would give No. 84 -- Sharpe's old number -- to Lewis.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I said, 'Man, make that 84 look good one last time, man,'" Sharpe said on his Nightcap podcast.
Lewis didn't even consider it.
"Nah, you are the best to ever do it, bruh," Lewis told Sharpe. "Ain't no way. I just wouldn't. Just out of respect [to you]."
Lewis continued that when he was choosing his number, coach Sean Payton said, "The best tight end to ever play here is 84." To which Lewis replied, "Yeah, he's one of the best to ever play in this league, too."
Sharpe won three Super Bowls during his decorated career, including two in Denver. The Broncos only have three officially retired jersey numbers, and No. 84 is not among them.
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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Marcedes Lewis didn't take Shannon Sharpe's number out of respect
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