DENVER — Friday has been declared “Randy Gradishar Day” in Colorado.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis will read a special proclamation at the state capitol building’s west steps at 2 p.m. Friday.
Gradishar will be joined by Polis, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Broncos Cheerleaders, Miles the Mascot and Stampede drumline at Friday's proclamation.
Gradishar was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 in February and will become officially enshrined in Canton, Ohio, in August. A member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, Gradishar was a member of the team's legendary Orange Crush defense.
Gradishar had to wait 35 years since he first became eligible for Hall of Fame election. A long time. Now that he’s in, he’s in forever.
“I’ve been waiting a while,’’ Gradishar told 9NEWS after his election was announced. “Never knew, never dreamed of even playing with the Denver Broncos and being a pro athlete and coming from Ohio State, and all the sudden you’re drafted into the NFL, I never dreamed about any of that. And then for the last number of years being considered for this Pro Football Hall of Fame."
Randy Gradishar Day
Gradishar, the Broncos’ first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 1974, was an inside linebacker in Joe Collier’s then unique, 3-4 defensive system. Denver’s perennial tackle leader, Gradishar also had 20 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns while never missing a game during his 10-year career.
“It was just a blessing for me and my wife to know that I finally got in,'' Gradishar said.
He earned seven Pro Bowl berths in those 10 years, was a two-time All Pro and in 1978 was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Gradishar was first eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1989 but only made it to the voter’s room as a top 15 modern-era finalist in 2003 and 2008, his final year of modern-era eligibility. At that point he was moved to the vast senior pool. Where the wait lengthened.
While football immortality had eluded Gradishar the first 40 years after he retired, and 35 years of Hall of Fame eligibility, his Orange Crush defense from the 1977 season has long been recognized as one of the best defenses in NFL history. That year, the Denver D allowed just 10.6 points per game while carrying the Broncos to the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Randy Gradishar
Now that Gradishar is in, perhaps cornerback Louis Wright, linebacker Jackson and safety Thompson can be considered for the Hall.
“And that’s what I’m hoping,'' Gradishar said. "I never dreamed about getting in the NFL and then all the sudden this Orange Crush happened in 1977. Everybody went nuts and so we got named and yeah, I’m the first guy going in, and right now I’m hoping and praying there will be other guys who will be considered. Their names will come up and they’ll get into the system and hopefully being nominated.”
Gradishar is the ninth Bronco who spent at least five seasons with the team to become a Hall of Famer, joining John Elway, Gary Zimmerman, Floyd Little, Shannon Sharpe, Terrell Davis, Champ Bailey, owner Pat Bowlen and Steve Atwater. Five other Hall of Famers played either three or four seasons with the Broncos: Peyton Manning, DeMarcus Ware, Willie Brown, Brian Dawkins and John Lynch.
Previous reporting by 9NEWS Broncos Insider Mike Klis contributed to this story.
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