Broncos Legendary LB Randy Gradishar Named a Finalist for Hall of Fame
The wait is finally over. Randy Gradishar has become the finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after waiting for far too long for this prestigious honor. A huge wrong has been made right for Gradishar, his family, the Denver Broncos, and their fans.
Regardless of the long wait, Gradishar is going to have a bronze bust in Canton, and whether a player gets into Canton in his first year of eligibility or his 35th, he will forever be immortalized in those hallowed halls.
One Last Step
There is one final step to officially getting the official nod for enshrinement, which is to receive at least 80% of the selection committee’s approval, but that is typically a foregone conclusion nowadays. It would be an absolute shock if Gradishar did not get the final approval.
Broncos Country can rejoice that the first member of the iconic Orange Crush defense and member of Denver's Super Bowl XII squad will be in the Hall of Fame.
Gradishar will be the eighth person in Canton who played most or all of their time in the NFL with the Broncos organization. Broncos part-owner and CEO Greg Penner summed up Gradishar's advancement nicely.
“We are thrilled for Randy Gradishar to take this significant step closer to his long-awaited place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Penner said via statement from the team. "The heart and soul of the iconic Orange Crush defense, Randy is now on the doorstep of earning the game’s highest honor. The Broncos congratulate Randy on becoming a Senior Finalist for the Class of 2024 and look forward to the full Selection Committee vote early next year.”
Gradishar played for the Broncos from 1974 to 1983 and did not miss a game after his rookie season. During his 10-year career, he was decorated with accolades in 70% of his seasons, earning five total All-Pro awards (two first-team/three second-team), and seven Pro Bowl nods. He is the only Bronco to ever win the Defensive Player of the Year award, which he received in 1978.
Gradishar was a tackling machine in the league, logging over 2,000 tackles for his career (unofficial), and he is arguably the greatest short-yardage/goal-line linebacker in the history of the game. He was the leader of one of the most iconic defenses of all time and one of the most dynamic linebackers to ever suit up.
To go with his many tackles, Gradishar also recorded 33 takeaways and scored four defensive touchdowns, one being a 93-yard interception return. This is his final Hall-of-Fame step for a former all-timer, who's already been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, and the Broncos Ring of Fame.
Broncos Country can rest easy now that Gradishar has finally gotten his due. Congratulations to Randy Gradishar for attaining the highest honor a football player can receive.
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