John Franklin-Myers has been trying to figure out the best way to frame a jersey and a pair of gloves he has at his home in Texas.

In Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019, Franklin-Myers, then a rookie defensive lineman with the Los Angeles Rams, beat eventual four-time Pro Bowl guard Joe Thuney and sacked legendary New England quarterback Tom Brady late in the first quarter. The ball came loose, and Patriots center David Andrews pounced on the fumble in what would be the only time Brady was sacked in the 2018 playoffs.

The Rams lost 13-3. Nevertheless, it was a top moment for Franklin-Myers, then a little-known player from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

“I tell you that was my claim to fame right there,’’ said Franklin-Myers, now with the Broncos. “I got the jersey. I got the gloves. The next thing I need is for Tom Brady to sign it, although he probably won’t. I got to figure out how to frame them.”

Franklin-Myers has 34 career sacks, including one in the Super Bowl while doing his share of damage against New England quarterbacks. In nine career games against the Patriots, he has four sacks, the other three being on Mac Jones in 2021 and 2022 when Franklin-Myers was with the New York Jets.

Now, Franklin-Myers is setting his sights on another New England signal caller. He will look to sack Drake Maye when the Broncos face the Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High.

“I want to sack every quarterback I play,’’ said Franklin-Myers, who had a career-high 7.5 sacks in his second season with the Broncos.

After getting the sack against Brady in the Super Bowl, Franklin-Myers was surprisingly waived by the Rams before the start of the 2019 season. He was with the Jets from 2019-23, a period in which he went against AFC East rival New England eight times.

OK, so the Jets lost seven of those games, making Franklin-Myers’ teams 1-8 against the Patriots. Nevertheless, his teammates sure hope he can get some more sacks against them Sunday.

“We need him to come alive this weekend,’’ said Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike.

Uwazurike remembers watching Franklin-Myers’ sack in the Super Bowl when he had just completed his third of what would be six seasons at Iowa State. When in college, he studied tape of Franklin-Myers.

“I’ve kept a really close eye on his career,’’ Uwazurike said. “I watched him a lot in college and now I have the honor to play with him. JFM is just a really good overall football player. He plays the run good and pass good, and he’s a really good leader on and off the field. He’s one of my favorite teammates.”

Franklin-Myers is a popular guy in the Broncos’ locker room.

“He’s one of my favorite players and my favorite D-tackle that I’ve played with,’’ said outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. “He plays the game the right way. He’s a real stand-up dude. He’s a good teammate, a great guy for real, and I love playing with him.”

Cooper would love it even more if Franklin-Myers has another sack against the Patriots.

“Hope he can do it again,’’ Cooper said.

After getting all this love from his teammates, they might have to say goodbye to Franklin-Myers sooner than they would like. If the Broncos lose Sunday, it could be his final game with Denver.

When Franklin-Myers was traded from the Jets to the Broncos in April 2024, he agreed to sign a new deal, getting a two-year, $15 million contract. Franklin-Myers has openly spoken about his desire to get a contract extension. But Franklin-Myers hasn’t been offered one by the Broncos, who instead have locked up on defense outside linebacker Nik Bonitto and defensive lineman Zach Allen, both Pro  Bowl selections, and up-and-coming defensive lineman Malcolm Roach.

Franklin-Myers said he still wants to re-sign with Denver when he becomes a free agent in March. But there is only so much money to go around for the Broncos’ defense and his price tag might end up being too high.

“Whatever happens for him, I’m wishing him the best, whether it’s with us or whoever,” said Uwazurike, a top reserve who would be a candidate to replace Franklin-Myers in the lineup if he departs. “He’s a well-established defensive tackle in this league, and somebody would be a fool not to have him.”

In the meantime, Franklin-Myers will be going after Maye on Sunday.

“I want a sack or three,’’ he said.

While no player on Denver’s 53-man roster has won a Super Bowl, Franklin-Myers is one of just three on it to have played in the big game. The others are linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who got into two Super Bowls with San Francisco, and tackle Mike McGlinchey, who played in one for the 49ers.

“I was a rookie, and I didn’t appreciate it as much at the time,’’ Franklin-Myers said about Super Bowl LIII.

If the Broncos make it to Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif., and Franklin-Myers has a sack in the game, he said he might drop his plans to frame his Rams stuff in favor of putting some Broncos memorabilia behind glass.

What I’m hearing

–While the Broncos opted not to activate running back J.K. Dobbins from injured reserve for Sunday’s game, guard Ben Powers remains impressed with his recovery so far. Dobbins, who suffered ligament damage in his left foot Nov. 6 and had surgery, was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday and was limited in practice during the week. He could return if the Broncos make it to Super Bowl LX. Powers was Dobbins’ Baltimore teammate from 2020-22, a period when he suffered a torn ACL and torn Achilles before recovering. “It’s unbelievable,’’ Powers said of Dobbins’ ability to bounce back. “(Injuries aren’t) something that’s not new, as we all know with his career, his medical past. So I’m just happy for him (with his recovery).”

–While former Broncos star receiver Rod Smith was disappointed to see quarterback Bo Nix lost for the season with a broken right ankle suffered in last Saturday’s 33-30 overtime win over Buffalo in a divisional playoff, he believes head coach Sean Payton has what it takes to get backup Jarrett Stidham ready for Denver to upset the Patriots. “I think we have the coach for this,’’ Smith said. “This will be one of those defining moments in coach Payton’s career, and I think he can pull it off.” Smith attended the game against the Bills and will be back at Empower Field on Sunday.

What I’m seeing

–If Stidham plays well Sunday, that could help his chances of appearing in one of the Progressive Insurance commercials featuring a backup quarterback. He told The Denver Gazette in November he would welcome being in one but has never been contacted. “If you want to take over the marketing, you’re more than welcome,’’ he said then. About the ads, he said, “They’re pretty good. It’s pretty funny. Those are fun.”

–Broncos fans will need to get going a bit earlier than normal on Sunday. The 1 p.m. start marks the third-earliest kickoff for a Broncos home playoff game. Their 37-21 win over Cleveland in the 1989 AFC Championship Game began at 11:30 a.m., and their 20-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 1977 AFC Championship Game started at noon.