It’s long overdue but now finally official: Randy Gradishar is a Hall of Famer.
Gradishar has been elected as a member of the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, the league announced during NFL Honors on Thursday night.
A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, Gradishar was the leader of the Denver Broncos’ famous “Orange Crush” defense that led the team to their first Super Bowl (XII in 1977). One year later, Gradishar won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Broncos credit Gradishar with 2,049 career tackles, 19.5 sacks, 20 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns during his 10-year career in the NFL.
Gradishar was a finalist three other times before finally being elected as a senior candidate this year. He will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio in August.
He becomes the 10th* former Broncos player to reach Canton, joining RB Floyd Little, QB John Elway, DB Steve Atwater, TE Shannon Sharpe, OL Gary Zimmerman, RB Terrell Davis, CB Champ Bailey, QB Peyton Manning and OLB DeMarcus Ware. Late team owner Pat Bowlen is also in the Hall of Fame, as are a few *other players who spent time in Denver.
Gradishar, 71, is already a member of the Broncos’ Ring of Fame. Now he’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well.
