Randolph Charles Gradishar (born March 3, 1952) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. A native of Ohio, Gradishar was a one-time consensus and one-time unanimous All-American playing college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, before playing ten seasons for Denver, where he was the centerpiece of their "Orange Crush Defense". In 2024, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Early life The son of a Puebloan of Slovene ancestry, Gradishar is a 1970 graduate of Champion High School, Champion, Ohio. During his high school career, Randy lettered all three years in both football and basketball. As a high school football player, Randy received honors including All-League, All-County, and the Star Helmet Award.
In basketball, he was the leading rebounder for three years and the second leading scorer for two years, receiving All-League and All-County honors. Randy holds the high school records for most blocked shots (44), single game rebounds (26), and most career rebounds (817).
In 2004, Randy was inducted into the Champion High School Hall of Fame for Athletics. He was presented by his former high school coach, Al Carrino.Hall of Fame for Athletics 2004 Inductees , Champion Local School District
College career Gradishar, who graduated with a degree in Distributive Education, was a three-year starter with the Ohio State University from 1971 to 1973. Former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes called Gradishar "the best linebacker I ever coached". He made 134 tackles in his senior year, 60 of them solo, to lead the team. "Randy Gradishar is the finest linebacker I ever coached" —Woody Hayes In Gradishar's three years with the Buckeyes, all as a starter, the team had a 25–6–1 record, with two Big Ten Conference championships. Gradishar's final collegiate game was a 42–21 victory over the University of Southern California in the 1974 Rose Bowl, to complete a 10–0–1 season. In his senior season the Ohio State defense allowed only 64 points and posted four shutouts.All-time OSU defensive team packs quite a wallop, Gannett News Service
Against Washington State in 1973, Gradishar made 22 tackles, then the second most in a game in Ohio State history, and still stands as 9th best. His 320 career tackles were the most in school history when Gradishar left Ohio State and now stands as 11th best in team history.
Gradishar was a consensus First-team All-American in 1972 and a unanimous First-team selection in 1973. Also in 1973, Gradishar finished sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.John Cappelletti , Heiseman.com. 1973 Heisman voting Place Player, School, Position, Year Points1st John Cappelletti, Penn State, RB, Sr. 1,0572nd John Hicks, Ohio State, OT, Jr. 5243rd Roosevelt Leaks, Texas, RB, Jr. 4824th David Jaynes, Kansas, QB, Sr. 3945th Archie Griffin, Ohio State, RB, So. 3266th Randy Gradishar, Ohio State, LB, Sr. 2827th Lucious Selmon, Oklahoma, NG, Sr. 2508th Woody Green, Arizona State, RB, Sr. 2479th Danny White, Arizona State, QB, Sr. 16610th Kermit Johnson, UCLA, RB, Sr. 122
Randy was also academic All-American in 1973. According to scouts Gradishar was a linebacker who went out every day with his hard hat and lunch pail and got the job done.The Ten Greatest Buckeyes Of All-Time: #8 Randy Gradishar , theclevelandfan.com. When naming Gradishar All-American Time stated he was the "best Big Ten linebacker in three years" Gradishar is a punishing tackler capable of penetrating any block, and, say the scouts, "he has that great pro quality—the ability to cover somebody else's mistake." Before entering the National Football League Gradishar played in the Hula Bowl and the Coaches' All-American game in 1974.
While attending the Ohio State University, Gradishar joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
College legacy Gradishar was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1987, he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Gradishar was elected to the GTE Academic Hall of Fame in 1992. Ohio State's director of athletics, Ed Weaver, said, "No more outstanding young man has participated in our athletic program." Gradishar was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1999 Gradishar received the Dick Butkus Silver Anniversary Award recognizing his achievements 25 years after his graduation from Ohio State.Phil Long.com He was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000.
The Ohio State end-of-season award for most outstanding linebacker is known as the Randy Gradishar Award. Gradishar himself was named as the 8th best Ohio State player of all time. He also made the list of the top 100 college football players of all time.Top 100 College Football Players of All Time , America's Best & Top Ten. In 2000, he was named to ABC Sports's All-Century team as an inside linebacker.
Professional career Gradishar was drafted in the first round with the 14th overall pick in the 1974 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Gradishar went on to spend ten seasons with the Denver Broncos franchise. He played along with Tom Jackson as part of the Orange Crush Defense and is considered by some to be the greatest defensive player in Broncos history. Teammate Jim Jensen said Gradishar and Roger Staubach were the two best players he ever took the field with.Jim Jensen , NFL Alumni, Rocky Mountain Chapter.
He became a starter midway through his rookie season and was named to his first Pro Bowl after the 1975 season, his third in the NFL. From that season through his last, 1983, the Broncos "Orange Crush" defense allowed the third fewest rushing yards in the NFL, behind only the Steelers "Steel Curtain" defense and the Cowboys' "Doomsday" defense.Randy Gradishar for the Professional Football Hall of Fame Additionally, the Broncos trailed only the Steelers in the fewest yards per rush during that same span. They have been named one of the NFL's greatest defenses by the BBC and others.Gridiron's greatest defences, BBC News.
Gradishar became nationally known in a 1975 Monday Night Football game versus the Green Bay Packers in which he picked off a pass and returned it for a game-sealing touchdown while also recording a sack, two tackles for loss and knocked down two passes and recorded six solo tackles.Phil Long.com
In 1976 the Broncos switched to a 3–4 defense in which Gradishar moved from middle linebacker to inside linebacker, where he stayed the remainder of his career. The switch to the 3–4 defense gave Gradishar responsibilities relative to rush-lane discipline and pass coverage that are beyond those of a middle linebacker in the 4–3 defense. In addition to leading the Broncos in tackles for the second straight year, Gradishar led all NFL linebackers in sacks, with seven. He was voted second-team All-AFC by United Press International.
In 1977, Gradishar assisted the Broncos to Super Bowl XII, their very first. He earned Pro Bowl honors and was named first team All-Pro. He anchored a defense that led the AFC in fewest points allowed (148 in the 14-game season) and gave up the 6th-fewest yards.NFS Statistics by Team Category Gradishar was also voted the AFC Defensive Player of the Year by the Columbus Touchdown Club. The 1977 Broncos season is documented in a new book by Terry Frei, '77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age that features Gradishar, Lyle Alzado and others.'77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age The 1977 Broncos season began with a 7–0 shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals that had been one of the NFL's top offenses from 1974–1976 that featured offensive stars like Jim Hart, Terry Metcalf, Mel Gray, Dan Dierdorf and Conrad Dobler. In a 14–7 win against the Kansas City Chiefs the Broncos made a goal line stand as time expired to preserve a win. Denver Post staff writer Terry Frei's book, 77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age, put it this way, "Gradishar penetrated and stopped two running plays, as Gradishar did time and time again on the goal line in his career. It was the trademark of both Gradishar and the defense overall".
He was named consensus NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 by winning the Associated Press Award, along with the UPI Defensive Player of the Year award and the NEA Defensive MVP award, receiving the George Halas Trophy for his efforts as the Broncos reached the playoffs for the second straight season. The Broncos defense allowed 198 points in 16 games, which was second in the NFL behind the Super Bowl champion Steelers.NFL Statistics by Team Category Additionally, Gradishar was the Football Digest NFL Linebacker of the year in 1978, an honor he repeated in 1979.
The following season, 1979, the Broncos defense ranked 5th in fewest points allowed and Gradishar led the team in tackles for the 5th straight season.NFL Statistics by Team Category The 1980 season was average in terms of record (8–8) and statistics as the Broncos defense ranked in the middle of the pack in many defensive categories. Against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Stadium, Gradishar returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown which was his career long interception return, a team record, and one of four defensive touchdowns Gradishar scored in his career. He was also named All-Pro and was voted the Broncos Most Valuable Player for the second time in three years.
However, under new coach Dan Reeves the Bronco defense rebounded in 1981, ranking 6th in total defense and 9th in fewest points allowed as Broncos finished the season with a record of 10-6.NFL Statistics by Team Category Randy had one of his best seasons as he was consensus All-Pro and All-AFC as well as being voted to the Pro Bowl.
The Broncos returned to the playoffs in 1983, led by rookie quarterback John Elway and Gradishar, as he capped off his career with his seventh Pro Bowl in ten NFL seasons. In week 12 of 1983 season, against the Seattle Seahawks, Gradishar intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble, recorded a sack, and a tackle for loss to go with his season-high 15 tackles in a key 38–27 win.
NFL legacy "If you ask me to name the five best linebackers I played against, or had a chance to cover in my broadcasting career, Randy Gradishar would be on that list ... There is no question about his credentials; Randy Gradishar belongs in the Hall of Fame."Quotes Received from NFL Players —Merlin Olsen His former coach Dan Reeves said about Gradishar, "He was as good a linebacker as I have ever been around, and I have been around some great ones. He was a leader without question of our defense while I was with Denver. He was an exceptional football player. I had a great deal of respect for him when I was at Dallas before I ever went to Denver. After I arrived in Denver and saw what kind of a leader he was my respect for him grew. He never missed a game and was a dominant force on the field. The opposing team always had to take him into account when they devised their game plans."
Randy Gradishar was called, "the heart and soul of the original Orange Crush defense. He was the centerpiece of Joe Collier's 3-4 and the glue that held a ragtag bunch of degenerates and hand-me-downs (I mean that in a good way) together." Pro Football Weeklys personnel scout Joel Buchsbaum wrote that "there are quite a few scouts who will tell you that former Broncos ILB Randy Gradishar was almost as good, even as good, as Jack Lambert" and "unlike Lambert, Gradishar was not a flashy headhunter, just a great anticipator who was a deadly tackler and great short-yardage defender".