Meet HOF Finalist Randy Gradishar Oct. 14 at Old Crows Antique Mall

 Old Crows Antique Mall is proud to present a special Autograph Event for our newest NFL HOF Senior Finalist Randy Gradishar. The event will take place on October 14 from 12-3 p.m. at the Mall. As a potential member of the Class of 2024, Gradishar will find out the results of the competition mid-January when the Hall of Fame’s full Selection Committee will cast its votes. The result will determine which finalists will be enshrined in Canton later that year. In the meantime, Old Crows wants to celebrate Gradishar’s selection as one of three Senior finalists. The winner will join the Modern-Era finalists and Coach/Contributor finalists as part of the Class of 2024.

 Randy Charles Gradishar (born March 3, 1952) is an American former professional football player who was a middle linebacker in the 1970s and 1980s for the  Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Ohio, Gradishar was a two-time consensus All-American  for the Ohio State Buckeyes, before playing ten seasons for the Denver Broncos.

 It is little wonder that Gradishar is being considered for the HOF honor. During his 10-year career in the NFL, Gradishar left his mark as one of the most dominant linebackers in NFL history. In the 1970s and early 1980s, he was among the greats at the position, helping make Denver’s famous “Orange Crush” defense one of the most famous units of its time and leading it to the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth.

 “In an era of pro football when running backs ruled on offense, linebackers were their natural adversaries on defense — and the most clever, ruthless and fundamentally sound made their mark at inside linebacker. And in the situations where it mattered most, there was perhaps no linebacker better than Gradishar at identifying plays, slipping the gaps and making the tackle,” as longtime defensive coordinator Joe Collier said in 2020.

 “Every year that he played, he led our team in tackles,” Collier continued,  “He was good. He was very good. He was a linchpin of our 3-4 defense. We ended up being, at that period of time, the number one defense as far as short-yardage, goal-line and inside the 20. Statistics weren’t kept on that kind of stuff at the time. But the [reason] that we were so good on short-yardage and goal-line defense was Randy. Randy was probably the best short-yardage, goal-line type of middle linebacker in the history of the NFL.”

 Other accolades came from many of his former coaches and teammates.

 “We are thrilled for Randy Gradishar to take this significant step closer to his long-awaited place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Broncos Owner & CEO Greg Penner said in a statement. “The heart and soul of the iconic Orange Crush defense, Randy is now on the doorstep of earning the game’s highest honor. The Broncos congratulate Randy on becoming a Senior Finalist for the Class of 2024 and look forward to the full Selection Committee vote early next year.”

 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.”

 “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 the list. There is no question about his credentials. Randy Gradishar belongs in the Hall of Fame,” said Merlin Olsen.

 After his NFL career, Gradishar continued to contribute to his community. Some of his activities included: being president of the Denver Broncos Youth Foundation from 1982 to 1992; served on the NFL Players Special Advisory Council from 1992 to 1995; worked with Promise Keepers  in Denver from 1994–97; participated in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure celebrity race to raise awareness and funds for research into curing breast; serves as an Honorary Chair for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. Help Old Crows Antique Mall celebrate this truly great football player and outstanding human being on October 14. Call 303-973-8648 for more info.