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Denver Broncos: Who is most deserving Hall of Fame candidate now?

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 8: Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 8: Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Randy Gradishar
OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 4: Randy Gradishar #52 and Larry Riley #26 of the Denver Broncos tackles the runner of the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game October 4, 1981, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Gradishar played for the Broncos from 1974-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

1. Randy Gradishar

This is a dead horse that I will continue to beat. Randy Gradishar should have been in the Hall of Fame years ago and it’s simply a tragedy that he’s not. I have detailed this before.

Gradishar played all  10 of his seasons in Denver and made the Pro Bowl in seven of those. He was a six-time All-Pro as well as being chosen as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. He was a do-it-all linebacker and one of the best players in franchise history.

He was also the leader of the “Orange Crush” defense, a unit that has stood the test of time as being one of the best in NFL history. However, not one player from that defense is in the Hall of Fame, which is hard to believe.

When the Pro Football Hall of Fame added many players who had been waiting for a long time to get in as part of the NFL’s 100th anniversary in 2020, many saw that as the best chance Gradishar had to get in.

But he was once again passed over.

It is a real possibility that Gradishar never reaches the Hall of Fame. At this point, he is one of the biggest snubs there is when it comes to the Hall of Fame, not just for the Broncos but for any other team too.

Hopefully, he’ll someday be recognized with the honor he richly deserves.

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