Randy Gradishar's Hall of Fame moment, 35 years in the making, was a historic one for not only him, but also for his teammates, family, friends and the Denver Broncos organization.
In recent years, the Broncos have seen their Pro Football Hall of Fame representation at 2121 George Halas Drive steadily increase, as legends like Peyton Manning, Champ Bailey and Terrell Davis have been chosen for enshrinement. But Gradishar's induction represents a different feeling — the inclusion of a previously overlooked era of Broncos history in the hallowed halls in Canton.
This weekend was my fourth trip to pro football's hometown, and each one brings unique memories to cherish. My first visit, when former Bronco and broadcaster Tom Jackson received the Pete Rozelle Award in 2015, featured a tour through the Hall of Fame guided by Jackson, Ring of Famer Billy Thompson and late Hall of Fame Broncos running back Floyd Little. At my second, I saw Peyton Manning host a screening of his "Peyton's Places" show, featuring football heroes like Joe Namath as in-person guests. And last year, at DeMarcus Ware's post-enshrinement party, I witnessed a remarkable moment when his former teammates cut off the music to make toast after toast — speaking not so much about his athletic prowess or accomplishments as about his kindness and generosity.
Enshrinement Weekend can be a grind, running from one event to the next, but it's moments like those that make it so fulfilling, and Gradishar's enshrinement promised more of the same.
On Friday morning, the new and returning Hall of Famers gathered as a group at Centennial Plaza to sit for the annual Hall of Fame photo. In addition to Gradishar, several former Broncos were in attendance, including Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis, DeMarcus Ware and Gary Zimmerman.
Gradishar took his seat next to former Dolphins running back Larry Csonka. Seeing them talk and share a laugh, I thought that interactions like these must be so rewarding for Gradishar — to wait nearly 40 years and then be welcomed by other greats from his era.
After photographing the event, I talked briefly with Tony Dungy, the Super Bowl-winning coach who led the Colts and Manning to a Lombardi Trophy to cap the 2006 season. I recalled that prior to his coaching days, Dungy had played for the Steelers during Gradishar's heyday. Denver and Pittsburgh were among the AFC's elite teams at that time, and their battles featured two of the game's best inside linebackers of any era in Gradishar and Steelers star Jack Lambert. Lambert, Dungy told me, had such high regard for Gradishar that he would play Gradishar on the Steelers' scout team unit during practice, urging teammates to account for Gradishar's whereabouts at all times.
After an afternoon press conference, the Hall of Fame held its Gold Jacket Dinner at Canton Memorial Civic Center. During the annual banquet, each new enshrinee walks "the gauntlet" — a path lined on either side with returning Hall of Famers congratulating them — and then a Hall of Famer of the enshrinee's choice presents them with their gold jacket at a stage in the middle of the auditorium. Waiting for Gradishar at the end of his walk was Steve Atwater — a fitting choice given that the former Broncos safety delivered the news of Gradishar's election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to him in January.
But perhaps the photo that said the most to me about the moment was the reaction that Jackson had watching Gradishar in his new piece of wardrobe. The double fist pump seemed to speak for all Broncos fans waiting for an Orange Crush member to be recognized by the Hall of Fame.
Saturday morning, I headed to downtown Canton for the Canton Repository Grand Parade, which features an array of floats, performers, vehicles and Pro Football Hall of Famers. Under an overcast sky, Gradishar joined up with Jackson again for the experience, sharing laughs throughout the route and smiling every time they spotted spectators in his Broncos jersey.
The sky turned surly not too long after the parade concluded, as a thunderstorm drove fans to shelter and the Hall of Fame to postpone its centerpiece event, the Class of 2024 Enshrinement. I imagine anyone familiar with Gradishar's journey to this point must have found the delay bitterly ironic, given how long he had to wait to get to this day. But it couldn't rain forever, and almost two hours after the scheduled time, the stadium opened and the program got underway.
As I walked the floor, I scanned the audience for Gradishar fans. There were plenty dotting the crowd, but one man in particular caught my eye. Dressed essentially in a full Broncos uniform, this man was in full costume as the Orange Crush linebacker!
Gradishar, who took the stage third in the enshrinement order after Dwight Freeney and Steve McMichael, walked to his covered Hall of Fame bust with Jackson, his presenter. Each man grabbed half of the covering and pulled it off, revealing a likeness of Gradishar from his playing career with the smile that was so familiar to teammates, and probably some opponents, too.
From in front of the stage, I could turn around and see Gradishar's family and close friends hanging on to each and every word of a speech about how his family, friends, football career and faith guided him to this moment. Over the course of the last 35 years, I think it's understandable to look solely at how frustrating the wait has been for Gradishar — but in the look on his wife's face and the others' at this table, you can also understand how exhilarated they are to see that lengthy wait end.
Following the conclusion of his speech, Gradishar was taken behind the stage for celebratory photos with family, fellow Hall of Famers and other guests. Manning, Ware, Atwater and Gary Zimmerman joined Gradishar and his wife, Beth, and Broncos Owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner for one group photo. The day before, Gradishar spoke about the pride he and the Orange Crush defense take in helping pave the way for the standard the franchise set later with three Super Bowl wins. In this group, all that appears to be laid out, with the appreciation going in both directions.
With that, I was off yet again (as was Gradishar's bust), this time to prepare for his enshrinement party.
The man of the hour was reunited with his bust at the event between pillars adorned with photos from Gradishar's football life. There, he received well-wishers for hours. Family, friends and former teammates from across eras mingled and celebrated the moment.
At one point, the music stopped as Gradishar was encouraged to do an impromptu speech. In the center of the room, he was surrounded by other Orange Crush teammates — including Jackson, Barney Chavous, Rubin Carter, Louis Wright, Steve Foley and many others. And in front of him was Gradishar's former linebackers coach, Myrel Moore. At 90 years old, Moore is the last living coach from the 1977 team. For as much as Gradishar was put in the spotlight on this night, he and his teammates wanted to do the same for Moore.
As the night wound down and the weekend's festivities came to a close for me, it became clear that this was the moment I'd remember for years to come: a historic era of Denver Broncos football finally receiving its time to shine, one man representing their chief career accomplishment as a legendary defense and making sure the rest of them could bask in the love, as well.
