LB: Randy Gradishar
This Broncos player is widely regarded as one of the snubs for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Randy Gradishar was a tackling machine and a true face of the “Orange Crush” defense with Karl Mecklenberg, Tom Jackson, Rulon Jones, and others. Gradishar racked up so many tackles that it begs the question of whether or not his type of play would last in the NFL today.
Gradishar’s style might be a different role, but it still holds a place in the NFL for an impact.
He accumulated 286 tackles in 1978, is a seven-time Pro Bowler and earned two first-team All-Pro honors (1977 and 1978). He remains the all-time leading tackler in Denver Broncos history.
One other tidbit is that Gradishar did not miss any games. He was a true iron man at linebacker. Through his career, Gradishar played in 145 games with 134 starts.
The linebacker would be inducted into the Ring of Fame in 1989. Broncos head coach Vic Fangio called Gradishar a terrific football player. The fact that Fangio said this shows you how great of a player Gradishar was.
— Cameron Parker