ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP/CBS4) - Frank Tripucka, who quarterbacked the Denver Broncos in their inaugural season and later wanted his No. 18 unretired so Peyton Manning could wear it, died Thursday.

Frank Tripucka, who quarterbacked the Denver Broncos in their inaugural season and later wanted his No. 18 unretired so Peyton Manning could wear it, died Thursday. He was 85.

Denver Broncos Ring of Fame quarterback Frank Tripucka passed away Thursday morning in New Jersey at the the age of 85. “Frank Tripucka was an original Denver Bronco and Ring of Famer who was ...

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.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Denver's original No. 18 -- the man for whom the Broncos retired the number -- passed away at age 85. The Broncos' first quarterback, Frank Tripucka, died Thursday morning in ...

One look at Frank Tripucka’s stat sheet might have the modern-day Broncos fan wondering why the team retired his number. He played only four seasons with the Broncos, albeit their first four ...

On Thursday of last week, the Broncos' first quarterback, Frank Tripucka passed away in New Jersey. When the Broncos traveled to play the New York Giants this weekend, the current quarterback was able ...

Frank Tripucka, who was 85 when he passed away in 2013, was the first QB in NFL-AFL history to reach 3,000 passing yards in a season when he did so in the Broncos’ inaugural season of 1960.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Frank Tripucka, who quarterbacked the Denver Broncos in their inaugural season and later wanted his No. 18 unretired so Peyton Manning could wear it, died Thursday. He was 85.