Randy Gradishar was the heart of the Orange Crush back in the 1970s and early 80s. It took the 1978 Defensive Player of the Year over 40 years to finally be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, but it’s never too late for an honor this prestigious. Gradishar is one of the most underrated defensive players in NFL history, and his impact will always be remembered in the city of Denver.

Gradishar was drafted 14th overall by the Broncos in the 1974 draft and instantly made his presence felt. By 1975, he was a pro-bowler and the established leader of the blossoming Orange Crush defense, one of the top defenses of all time. In the center of that 3-4 defense, Gradishar finished his career with 2,049 tackles, which was the most tackled in NFL history at the time of his retirement. His presence wasn’t just felt in the run game, as he made sure to punish quarterbacks who tested him over the middle. Gradishar tallied 20 interceptions, three of which he took to the house for a touchdown. He also paired those with 13 fumble recoveries, one of which went for a scoop-and-score.

Every great defense has a great leader at its core. The 2012 Ravens had Ray Lewis, the 1986 Giants had Lawrence Taylor, the list goes on. Even though Gradishar didn’t win a championship with Denver, the point stands. The 1977 Broncos put up one of the greatest single defensive seasons in NFL history en route to a 12-2 record in the regular season led by Gradishar’s hard hits.

The postseason for the ’77 Broncos saw a lot of the same success the team had in the regular season. Denver defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-21 in the Divisional round and took down the Oakland Raiders 20-17 in the AFC Championship. However, the team came up short in Super Bowl XII against the Dallas Cowboys, losing 27-10.

Gradishar was a Hall of Fame nominee numerous times before he finally made it as a part of the 2024 class, with his first nomination coming in 2003. Along with being an NFL Hall of Fame member, he is a part of the Denver Broncos’ Ring of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.