The Lead

A former Broncos defender has earned significant recognition at his alma mater.

Former Broncos defensive back Ronnie Bradford has been elected to the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame, the school announced Wednesday.

Bradford — who will be part of the 19th class to be inducted — will be honored alongside the nine other electees in October.

At Colorado, Bradford was a four-time letterwinner as he and the Buffs earned a 39-7-3 record during his tenure from 1989-92. In addition to three Big Eight titles during that span, the Buffs won the national championship in 1990 — and Bradford had a big hand in the achievement.

In the 1991 Orange Bowl to cap the title-winning season, Bradford blocked an extra point in the first half to keep Notre Dame's lead at 6-3. Colorado would eventually win 10-9, with the blocked extra point serving as the deciding factor. With no overtime in 1990, a tie likely would have ended CU's championship hopes.

Bradford later earned first-team All-Big 8 honors as a senior in 1992.

"I am extremely humbled to have the honor of being inducted into CU's 2024 class in its Athletic Hall of Fame," Bradford said in the Buffaloes' release. "Growing up and seeing the 'Blue and Gold' (uniform colors at the time) on the TV screen and then in high school, getting a chance to watch the Buffaloes in person was so motivating for me to become one of those players."

An Adams City High School (Commerce City) alum, Bradford continued his Colorado path in the professional ranks. Though he was drafted by the Dolphins in the 1993 NFL Draft, he saw his first game action in Denver.

Bradford appeared in 26 games and started three contests from 1993-95, recording 37 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception in Denver. He also returned to Denver in 2003, when he began a six-year coaching stint with a focus on both special teams and the defensive side of the ball. He began his tenure as assistant special teams coach and then spent a pair of seasons as special teams coordinator. In 2007, he worked as the team's assistant defensive backs coach before serving as the team's defensive backs coach in his final season in Denver.

Bradford — whose coaching journey has taken him to several different teams — now works for the Dolphins as a special teams assistant.