His small Ohio town didn’t offer football until the 9th grade. Because of that, Randy Gradishar fancied himself more as a basketball player because he’d spent far more time on the court than the gridiron. Thankfully college coaches didn’t feel the same way.

Randy was courted by a number of colleges, which caught him off guard because he had never planned on attending college. His parents couldn’t afford it and he figured he would start working after high school like everyone else he knew. Instead, Woody Hayes connected with Randy and as importantly, his father and off he went to Ohio State.

His success as a Buckeye caught the eye of NFL Scouts, so much so that he was the 14th overall pick by the Broncos in 1974. Being his unassuming self, Randy didn’t know he was a first rounder or even where Colorado was, he just knew he needed to get to Denver after head coach John Ralston called him.

His 10-year NFL career in Denver was spent immersed in the Orange Crush Defense, multiple Pro-Bowls, a Super Bowl appearance, NFL Defensive Player of the Year and much more. So much more that after 35 years of retirement from the game, he was finally voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.