It has been 35 years in the making, but the first member of the famed “Orange Crush” defense received his Hall of Fame gold jacket.
Randy Gradishar received his long-awaited turn to put on his gold jacket in Canton, Ohio, prior to his enshrinement speech on Saturday at 12:00 pm.
Fellow Hall of Fame Broncos defender Steve Atwater presented Gradishar with his jacket in front of family and friends. After putting on his jacket, Gradishar was embraced by his family, and his presenter for the Hall of Fame, Tom Jackson.
Gradishar played for the Broncos from 1974-1983, as the anchor man of the famous “Orange Crush” defense of the late 1970’s, when Denver went to its first Super Bowl in 1977.
Gradishar is one of at least a dozen “true” Broncos who have been enshrined in the walls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and there is hope on the horizon for more former players and coaches to get “The Knock.”