Randy Gradishar looks forward to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado — A dominant member of the Broncos’ “Orange Crush” defense is finally earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Next week, former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining the six other members of the Class of 2024. The four-day 2024 Enshrinement Week will take place at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, a location that means a lot to Gradishar.

“It’s going to be an exciting time and it’s exciting for me because I’m from the area,” Gradishar said Saturday during training camp. “(I’m) born and raised in Warren Champion, Ohio, which is about 40 miles from Akron and Canton. I always passed by it when I went to Ohio State.”

Gradishar returns to his home state for such an important event and is looking forward to sharing the special moment of receiving his gold jacket and bust with people from different stages of his life.

Gradishar said his speech focused on thanking everyone who has had an impact on his journey, from close friends and family to the high school teachers and coaches who helped launch his career.

“Having the jacket, having your bust and thanking everyone who’s been a part of your life for all these years, I’m just looking forward to that,” he said.

During Gradishar’s 10-year career, he solidified himself as one of the most dominant linebackers in NFL history. A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, he recorded a franchise-high 2,049 tackles and helped lead Denver to its first playoff and Super Bowl appearance.

As commander of the Orange Crush defense, Gradishar is grateful to be the first member of the unit to receive this honor. He hopes this is just the beginning.

“Finally, the ‘Orange Crush’ is being recognized,” he said. “I hope that through my induction, other guys here in the future, their names will come forward and they’ll have the opportunity to potentially be nominated and be a part of that ‘Orange Crush’ defense.”

Broncos Ring of Fame linebacker Tom Jackson will nominate Gradishar in his honor on August 3, making the occasion even more meaningful.

“We’re just good friends and always have been,” Gradishar said. “… (I) look forward to seeing Tommy and him being the one to present me with the bust and the gold jacket.”

Gradishar has waited a long time for this moment—35 years since he was eligible for initiation, to be exact. While he is grateful that the long wait is over, the symbolic nature of the timeline is not lost on him.

“It took 35 years and then it finally happened,” he said. “… I turned it over and it was ’53,’ my number. So it took 35 years for whatever reason before I was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”