ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For Broncos fans tuning in Wednesday morning to see who made the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Centennial Slate, there was one glaring omission.
The man who held together the famed Orange Crush defense, linebacker Randy Gradishar, was not part of the class.
Ten seniors players were elected to the Hall of Fame's Centennial Slate during a broadcast on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" program on Wednesday morning, and it had seemed like Gradishar had a good shot to make the cut considering his accolades and statistics when he was originally announced as one of the 20 finalists.
The former Bronco carved out one of the most prolific careers in franchise history during his 10 years in Denver, earning seven Pro Bowls and the 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. It was behind Gradishar's outstanding tackling, football IQ and leadership on the Orange Crush defense that the Broncos went to their first Super Bowl in 1977.
Take a look back through Randy Gradishar's career with the Broncos with these photos.
Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) smiles on the sideline during an NFL game in Denver, Colo., in 1979. Exact date is unknown. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Linebacker Randy Gradishar chases down a Buffalo Bills ball carrier during a game at Mile High Stadium.
Steelers' quarterback Terry Bradshaw (12) is hit from behind by Denver Broncos' Randy Gradishar (53) and Bob Swenson during AFC Playoff game, Dec. 30, 1978 in Pittsburgh. Bradshaw had just released a successful pass to Lynn Swann. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Denver Broncos defensive end Lyle Alzado (77), and linebackers Bob Swenson (51) and Randy Gradishar (53) stops Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Randy Grossman (84) during an 1977 AFC Divisional NFL playoff game on December 24, 1977. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 34-21. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Linebacker Randy Gradishar chases down the Oakland Raiders ball carrier during a game at Mile High Stadium.
Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) looks into the backfield during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers in Denver, 1970s. (AP Photo/Vernon Biever)
Linebacker Randy Gradishar eyes the Bengals quarterback during a game against Cincinnati at Mile High Stadium.
Denver Broncos Randy Gradishar (53) during a game from his 1978 season with the Denver Broncos. Randy Gradishar played for 10 seasons, all with the Denver Broncos and was a 7-time Pro Bowler.(David Durochik via AP)
Randy Gradishar waits for the snap.
Randy Gradishar takes a breather.
Randy Gradishar during a break between plays.
Randy Gradishar talks with defensive coordinator Joe Collier and head coach Dan Reeves.
Randy Gradishar wears a jersey adorned with the nickname "Meatball" as part of a practical joke.
Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) looks into the backfield during an NFL game in Denver, Colo., 1979. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Randy Gradishar runs with the play
Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) watches from the sideline during an NFL game in Denver, Colo., in 1979. Exact date is unknown. (AP Photo/NFL Photo)
Pro Bowl Selects Craig Penrose,Rick Upcurch and Randy Gradishar
NOV 1983: Randy Gradishar of the Denver Broncos in action against the Seattle Seahawks, Denver, CO
FILE Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar follows the action in this Dec. 30, 1977 file photo, during a football game against the Oakland Raiders in Denver. Gradishar hopes he gets the phone call on Saturday that he has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Gradishar was a linebacker with the Denver Broncos from 1974 thru 1983. He was the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. (AP Photo/File)
Linebacker Randy Gradishar, the Denver Broncos' No. 1 draft choice, struggles with the bar during chin-up exercises as the NFL team began practice with rookies at Pomona, Calif., July 19, 1974. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
Randy Gradishar takes a breather.
Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris (32) is met by Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) during an 1977 AFC Divisional NFL playoff on December 24, 1977. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 34-21. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler looks for room under pressure from Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar during first quarter action, Oct. 31, 1976 at the Oakland Coliseum. Stabler was sacked for an eight yard loss on the play. (AP Photo/Jim Palmer)
Randy Gradishar makes a tackle against the Browns.
Randy Gradishar (53) of the Denver Broncos leads the defensive surge during a game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 11, 1979. Gradishar has been chosen The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year. (AP Photo)
Advertising
Perhaps nobody is better able to observe what made Gradishar so good than the architect of that defense, defensive coordinator Joe Collier.
"Every year that he played, he led our team in tackles," Collier said Tuesday. "He was good. He was very good. He was a linchpin of our 3-4 defense. … We ended up being, at that period of time, the number one defense as far as short-yardage, goal-line and inside the 20. Statistics weren't kept on that kind of stuff at the time. But the fact that we were so good on short-yardage and goal-line defense was Randy. Randy was probably the best short-yardage, goal-line type of middle linebacker in the history of the NFL, really."
Gradishar, who arrived in Denver as the 14th-overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft after a great collegiate career at Ohio State, played in 145 career NFL games, totaled 2,049 tackles, 19.5 sacks 20 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns.
He also earned two first-team and three second-team All-Pro selections from the Associated Press.
"He was so dependable, and he never missed a game," Collier said. "Very rarely did he miss a practice. He was always right up in front in meeting rooms when we were working on game plans and that kind of stuff. So, he was kind of the leader of that group that we had during those years. Those things are kind of intangibles, you know, that aren't statistically proven. … He was a pure football player. He just did everything very well. A well-rounded player, worked very hard in practice, worked very hard in the weight room, worked very hard in film study — all that kind of stuff that make what I consider good players and pure football players."
For now, the Orange Crush still has no members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, unlike other famous defenses of the 1970s like Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain, Minnesota's Purple People Eaters and Miami's No-Name Defense of the 1970s.
But for Gradishar, the Broncos faithful hope his time will come soon enough.
