It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? That spring morning in 2022 when Denver basically threw a parade because they thought they'd finally fixed the post-Peyton Manning curse. I remember the local shops couldn't keep a Russell Wilson Broncos jersey on the shelves for more than twenty minutes. People were paying premium prices, convinced that the orange #3 was the missing piece for a Super Bowl run.
Fast forward to 2026, and the vibe is... different.
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Honestly, seeing a Wilson jersey at Empower Field at Mile High these days is a bit of a Rorschach test for Broncos fans. For some, it’s a reminder of a $242 million disaster that set the franchise back years. For others, it’s just a cheap piece of Nike gear they picked up at a clearance rack for thirty bucks.
The $85 Million Dead Cap Ghost
Let’s get the elephant out of the room. When the Broncos released Wilson in March 2024, they didn't just cut a player; they swallowed a record-breaking $85 million in dead cap hits. That is a staggering amount of money to pay someone not to play for you.
Because of that, the Russell Wilson Broncos jersey became an instant relic. The team even moved on so fast that they gave his number 3 to kicker Wil Lutz almost immediately. It was the NFL equivalent of deleting your ex's photos from Instagram the day after the breakup. If you're wearing that jersey in Denver now, you're literally wearing the most expensive "mistake" in the history of the AFC West.
Why You Still See Them Everywhere
You’d think people would have burned them all, but nope. Walk through any suburb in Aurora or Littleton on a Sunday, and you’ll still spot that orange and navy #3.
Why? It’s basic math, really.
When a superstar (or a presumed one) leaves a team under a cloud of disappointment, the price of their merchandise craters. Retailers like Rally House and Fanatics were dumping Wilson jerseys for as low as $32.97. For a parent looking to gear up a kid who grows out of clothes every six months, a $30 Nike jersey is a steal, regardless of whose name is on the back.
- The "Let's Ride" Irony: Some fans wear them ironically now. It's a "I survived the Hackett era" badge of honor.
- The Custom Job: I've seen a surprising number of fans use duct tape to turn "WILSON" into "LUTZ." It’s gritty, it’s ugly, and it’s peak Broncos Country.
- The Thrift Store Surge: In 2026, thrift shops in Colorado are absolutely overflowing with these. They’ve become the official uniform of "painting the house" or "mowing the lawn."
Collecting or Clutter?
If you’re a jersey collector, you might be wondering if a Russell Wilson Broncos jersey will ever actually be worth anything.
Probably not.
Unlike a John Elway or even a Peyton Manning jersey, which represent peaks in franchise history, the Wilson era represents a valley. However, there is a weird niche for the "rare" versions. Before the Broncos did their full "Mile High Collection" uniform redesign in 2024, Wilson wore the old-school style. If you have one of the limited-edition autographed versions from his first month in Denver, a few die-hard completionists might want it. But for the most part? It’s just fabric.
Currently, Wilson is bouncing around the league—spending time with the Steelers and most recently the Giants—trying to prove he’s still a starter at age 37. As he moves further away from his Denver stint, those jerseys just feel more and more like a fever dream we all had.
What to Do With Your Old #3
If you still have one hanging in your closet, you’ve basically got three realistic options:
- Donate it: Plenty of local charities in the Denver area take sports apparel. It might not be a "cool" jersey anymore, but it’s still a high-quality shirt for someone who needs one.
- The Nameplate Swap: You can actually buy replacement nameplates online. Since Wil Lutz took the number 3, you can technically convert your Wilson jersey into a Lutz jersey for about twenty dollars. It's a bit of work, but it saves the garment.
- Keep it as a "Dark Ages" Souvenir: Every team has them. The jerseys that represent the weird, failed experiments. In twenty years, it might be a fun conversation starter at a tailgate—a relic from the time Denver thought "Let's Ride" was a viable strategy.
The reality of the Russell Wilson Broncos jersey is that it’s a symbol of how quickly things can change in the NFL. One year you're the king of jersey sales; the next, you're a clearance item.
If you're looking to buy a jersey that actually has staying power in Denver right now, you're better off looking at a Bo Nix or a Pat Surtain II. At least with those, you won't have to explain yourself at the stadium.
Actionable Next Step: If you're looking to offload an old Wilson jersey, check out local Denver "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook or look into nameplate removal kits if you want to repurpose the #3 for the current roster.