Class of 2024: Randy Gradishar – Shares credit for his legacy with teammates
Enshrinement
Published on : 8/3/2024
By Barry Wilner
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
RANDY GRADISHAR crushed it.
Of course he did.
The man who epitomized the Denver Broncos’ “Orange Crush” defense was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
And, like any true leader, he immediately credited those around him – his Crushmates – for helping him get to Canton, which is not far from where he grew up in Champion, Ohio.
“Our late, great Orange Crush defensive coordinator Joe Collier,” he began his enshrinement speech. “Coach Collier wasn’t just a brilliant coach but also one of the best leaders and mentors any NFL player could want to have on their side.”
Gradishar followed by identifying each of his teammates on one of the greatest defensive units in NFL annals:
“Barney (Chavous), Lyle (Alzado), Rubin (Carter), Paul (Smith), Swenz (Bob Swenson), (Joe) Rizzo, Tom (Jackson), Rick (Baska), BT (Bill Thompson), Louie (Wright), Steve (Foley), Bernard (Jackson), Randy Rich, Randy Poltl, John (Grant) … we will always be the Orange Crush defense. We were a very explosive, dominant, winning force because Coach Collier wanted the best for us. In turn, he got the best from us.
“Coach Collier’s legacy? Loyal commitment, humility, quiet strength and encouragement made a lifelong difference in many athletes’ lives.”
One of the most dominant defensive players of his era, the 14th overall pick in the 1974 draft anchored a unit that sparked a turnaround for the franchise that during its AFL days never posted a winning record – and didn’t make the playoffs before Gradishar’s arrival. During his 10 seasons in the Mile High City, Denver recorded seven winning records and made the playoffs four times, including the Super Bowl Crush outfit for the 1977 campaign.
There’s no doubting that the do-everything linebacker was the focal point of his unit, leading the Broncos in tackles for nine successive seasons. In 1978, he was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, and made All-Pro for the second consecutive time in an era of superb linebackers.
Gradishar has mentioned that the Orange Crush players were together for seven or eight years, doing their thing so well.
“We were that defense,” he said. “Each guy taking his own responsibility for his position while being encouraged by the coaches. Play your position first and be good at it.”
In other words, be a difference maker.
Early in his heavily religious speech Saturday before an enthusiastic crowd that patiently waited out a storm delay, Gradishar made mention of Brave Church in Denver and its pastor.
“Pastor Jeff taught a series called `Built To Last” from the book of Nehemiah,” Gradishar said. “One of the messages from the series was difference makers. Pastor Jeff asked us to consider who made a difference in our lives.”
And as Gradishar mentioned family and friends and religious figures, former teammates and coaches, it became clear that he, too, was a difference maker.
What made him stand out? Leadership, for one. Remaining on the field for every play, as well. Oh yes, how about having a sense for where the opponent was heading – and getting there before the play developed.
Although tackles didn’t become an official NFL statistic until this century, Gradishar is credited with 2,049; only Hall of Famer Ray Lewis put more on his ledger.
Gradishar is one of only 10 linebackers with at least seven Pro Bowls, 20 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. The other nine are members of the Hall of Fame.
Now, so is Gradishar.
“As soon as I recognized I am going to be part of the Hall of Fame after 35 years (of eligibility), a couple of other guys from then will start coming up and being nominated,” he said earlier in the week. “I feel blessed that I am the first Orange Crush player in.”
Denver won its three Super Bowl titles long after Gradishar left the league in 1983. Still …
“Orange Crush guys take a lot of credit for John Elway and Peyton Manning taking them to and winning Super Bowls,” he said.
Class members are listed in order of their Enshrinement speeches:
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
RANDY GRADISHAR crushed it.
Of course he did.
The man who epitomized the Denver Broncos’ “Orange Crush” defense was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
And, like any true leader, he immediately credited those around him – his Crushmates – for helping him get to Canton, which is not far from where he grew up in Champion, Ohio.
“Our late, great Orange Crush defensive coordinator Joe Collier,” he began his enshrinement speech. “Coach Collier wasn’t just a brilliant coach but also one of the best leaders and mentors any NFL player could want to have on their side.”
Gradishar followed by identifying each of his teammates on one of the greatest defensive units in NFL annals:
“Barney (Chavous), Lyle (Alzado), Rubin (Carter), Paul (Smith), Swenz (Bob Swenson), (Joe) Rizzo, Tom (Jackson), Rick (Baska), BT (Bill Thompson), Louie (Wright), Steve (Foley), Bernard (Jackson), Randy Rich, Randy Poltl, John (Grant) … we will always be the Orange Crush defense. We were a very explosive, dominant, winning force because Coach Collier wanted the best for us. In turn, he got the best from us.
“Coach Collier’s legacy? Loyal commitment, humility, quiet strength and encouragement made a lifelong difference in many athletes’ lives.”
One of the most dominant defensive players of his era, the 14th overall pick in the 1974 draft anchored a unit that sparked a turnaround for the franchise that during its AFL days never posted a winning record – and didn’t make the playoffs before Gradishar’s arrival. During his 10 seasons in the Mile High City, Denver recorded seven winning records and made the playoffs four times, including the Super Bowl Crush outfit for the 1977 campaign.
There’s no doubting that the do-everything linebacker was the focal point of his unit, leading the Broncos in tackles for nine successive seasons. In 1978, he was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, and made All-Pro for the second consecutive time in an era of superb linebackers.
Gradishar has mentioned that the Orange Crush players were together for seven or eight years, doing their thing so well.
“We were that defense,” he said. “Each guy taking his own responsibility for his position while being encouraged by the coaches. Play your position first and be good at it.”
In other words, be a difference maker.
Early in his heavily religious speech Saturday before an enthusiastic crowd that patiently waited out a storm delay, Gradishar made mention of Brave Church in Denver and its pastor.
“Pastor Jeff taught a series called `Built To Last” from the book of Nehemiah,” Gradishar said. “One of the messages from the series was difference makers. Pastor Jeff asked us to consider who made a difference in our lives.”
And as Gradishar mentioned family and friends and religious figures, former teammates and coaches, it became clear that he, too, was a difference maker.
What made him stand out? Leadership, for one. Remaining on the field for every play, as well. Oh yes, how about having a sense for where the opponent was heading – and getting there before the play developed.
Although tackles didn’t become an official NFL statistic until this century, Gradishar is credited with 2,049; only Hall of Famer Ray Lewis put more on his ledger.
Gradishar is one of only 10 linebackers with at least seven Pro Bowls, 20 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. The other nine are members of the Hall of Fame.
Now, so is Gradishar.
“As soon as I recognized I am going to be part of the Hall of Fame after 35 years (of eligibility), a couple of other guys from then will start coming up and being nominated,” he said earlier in the week. “I feel blessed that I am the first Orange Crush player in.”
Denver won its three Super Bowl titles long after Gradishar left the league in 1983. Still …
“Orange Crush guys take a lot of credit for John Elway and Peyton Manning taking them to and winning Super Bowls,” he said.
More on the Enshrinement of each class member
Class members are listed in order of their Enshrinement speeches:
- Class of 2024: Dwight Freeney – Pushed himself ‘to make it happen’
- Class of 2024: Steve McMichael – Loved every minute of every down
- Class of 2024: Randy Gradishar – Shares credit for his legacy with teammates
- Class of 2024: Devin Hester – Enshrinement brings deeper respect to return game
- Class of 2024: Patrick Willis – Completed what he came to do in NFL
- Class of 2024: Julius Peppers – ‘Root people’ help plant him in Hall of Fame
- Class of 2024: Andre Johnson – Breakout receiver breaks barrier for Texans’ franchise
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