Broncos' rookie RJ Harvey changes jersey number to digits usually reserved for QBs

Billy Heyen

Broncos' rookie RJ Harvey changes jersey number to digits usually reserved for QBs image

RJ Harvey is embracing a new number as his NFL regular season debut approaches.

The Denver Broncos' rookie running back discarded the number 37 that he wore in the preseason.

Now, heading into Week 1, Harvey has chosen No. 12.

That's a number that classically was reserved for quarterbacks. In recent years, those numbers in the teens have gone to wide receivers.

But Harvey plans to put his own stamp on 12 as an RB.

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Charley Johnson, himself a QB, is the most successful Denver player to ever wear 12. It was also worn by Gus Frerotte in his time as a Broncos quarterback.

Most recently, though, the Broncos had given No. 12 to linebacker Kwon Alexander last season.

Now, it's Harvey's to make his own.

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The Broncos took Harvey in the second round of the NFL Draft in April, and he's now competing with J.K. Dobbins for top RB duties.

He was an absolute star at UCF in college.

He ran for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023, then raised that to 1,577 yards and 22 TDs in 2024.

He also caught a combined 61 passes in his three seasons as a starter for UCF.

Harvey has been a popular fantasy football target and likely has a big season and career ahead. And at least for now, he'll do it with 12 on his back.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle