The words didn’t come easily, some hesitantly at times, for Randy Gradishar as he acknowledged disappointment Saturday at being turned down for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Do I feel bad? Yes, of course, I feel bad,” Gradishar said before a small group that assembled for what was supposed to be a celebration. But it was quiet in the room, with a cake uncut and bottles of Orange Crush soft drink unopened in displays around the room.
Gradishar, who played 10 years for the Broncos from 1974-83, became the leader of the “Orange Crush” defense at middle linebacker. He said that it was an honor to have reached the 15 modern-era finalists for induction for the second time. But he was disappointed to learn that he didn’t make the cut to the final 10 in the voting.
“Sure, I feel as if I deserved to have been inducted,” Gradishar said. “My statistics fall favorably in the range of statistics compiled by players who already have been inducted.”
Gradishar’s time in the NFL corresponded with the playing years of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert and partially with linebacker Willie Lanier of the Kansas City Chiefs. Both are in the Hall of Fame.
Lambert played in 146 games over 11 years, Lanier in 149 games over 11 years, while Gradishar never missed a game playing 145 in 10 seasons. Gradishar joined the Broncos as a first-round draft pick in 1974 out of Ohio State after achieving All-America status. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
With the Broncos, Gradishar was in the Pro Bowl seven times and became the franchise’s leading tackler with 2,049. The high point for the Broncos during his career was reaching Super Bowl XII after the 1977 season. Gradishar was the league’s defensive player of the year in 1978.
Gradishar expressed disappointment for Broncos fans as well as the team’s famous era of the “Orange Crush” defense for not having something to celebrate.
“I think about the players on that team every day,” Gradishar said. “I was thinking about them earlier today.”
He named the entire defensive unit, including fellow linebackers Joe Rizzo, Tom Jackson and Bob Swenson.
By missing induction this year, Gradishar moves to the senior candidate list.
“I haven’t thought about it that much,” Gradishar said. “My focus has been on this the last couple of years. It would be an honor no matter how you go in, but I don’t have a specific answer about being a senior candidate.”
Gradishar left, saying he would spend the evening with his wife, Beth, over dinner.
“I won’t lose any sleep over this,” Gradishar said. “We’ll move on.”
