Broncos legend Randy Gradishar gets good news regarding Hall of Fame

Former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was one of the best players of his era but he has yet to find his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

However, with changes to the selection process that came out on Thursday, he may soon have his best chance yet. For the next three cycles beginning in 2023, the selection committee has approved changes that could allow up to three former players from the senior class to be elected in the same year.

This will include a “more comprehensive examination” of players whose careers ended more than 25 years ago. Gradishar, one of the best defensive players in Broncos history, retired following the 1983 season after spending his entire 10-year career in Denver.

Broncos great Randy Gradishar has a Hall of Fame resume

Though I have made the case for Gradishar to be in the Hall of Fame before, I am happy to do it again.

A first-round pick in 1974 out of Ohio State, Gradishar never had a nad season in Denver, making the Pro Bowl seven times along with being named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.

He had over 2,000 career tackles to go with 20 interceptions. He was one of the best linebackers of the 1970s and, perhaps most importantly, the key piece of one of the best defensive groups in NFL history — the Orange Crush defense.

Though it was one of the most dominant defenses of all time, not one player from that defense has been selected to the Hall of Fame. That has to change and now that senior candidates should have a better chance to get in, Gradishar deserves a long, thorough look.

Not long ago, Russell Baxter of NFL Spin Zone took a shot at the top 30 former players not yet in the Hall of Fame and Gradishar checks in at No. 5 on that list. You can pretty easily build a case that Gradishar is the most deserving player not yet in the Hall of Fame.

By the way, five of the players on this list will go in as part of the class of 2022.

The window is closing for Gradishar who may have given up hope of ever getting the call or the infamous knock on the door letting him know that his hard work and dedication to the game he loved has finally paid off.

With any luck, the football gods will finally look down upon the great Gradishar and give him the recognition that he and his fans have waited so long for.

It’s time.