Drafted 14th overall in the first round of the 1974 NFL Draft from Ohio State, Randy Gradishar came to Denver with glowing praise from legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes, who famously called him the best linebacker he ever coached. Throughout a career spanning over a decade, all in Denver's colors of brown, gold, and orange, Gradishar became the cornerstone of Denver's defense, growing to be the heart, mind, and spirit of the celebrated "Orange Crush" era.

Gradishar combined sideline-to-sideline range, textbook tackling form, and unmatched pre-snap recognition. Operating at middle linebacker in Joe Collier's 3-4 scheme, he was legendary for his short-yardage and goal-line stops, consistently meeting running backs head-on at the line of scrimmage to deny forward momentum. His instincts allowed him to drop cleanly into pass coverage as well, snaring 20 career interceptions.

Gradishar stepped into the starting lineup during his 1974 rookie season and earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 1975. By 1977, he was the undisputed centerpiece of a dominant defense that allowed just 10.6 points per game during the regular season. His ability to neutralize power-running games helped propel Denver to a 12-2 record, its first AFC West division title, and an iconic playoff run to Super Bowl XII, earning Gradishar his first First-Team All-Pro selection.

He reached the absolute peak of his national recognition in 1978, capturing consensus AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. That season, Gradishar recorded a staggering, franchise-record 286 tackles (according to the team), three sacks, and three interceptions while leading Denver to another 10-win campaign and a playoff berth. He capped his dominant late-70s run in 1979 with a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl nod, recording over 200 tackles and three interceptions as the Orange Crush defense yielded under 18 points per game for a third straight year.

What made Gradishar's decade of service in Denver particularly noteworthy was his unwavering availability. Throughout his ten-year career spanning from 1974 to 1983, he did not miss a single game, establishing a streak of 145 consecutive regular-season appearances. He was the leading tackler for the Broncos for nine successive seasons (1975–1983), amassed a total of 33 takeaways (comprising 20 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries), and received seven Pro Bowl selections along with five All-Pro honors (including 2 First-Team and 3 Second-Team).

In 1989, the franchise permanently recognized his unmatched contributions by inducting him as the sole member into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame. For decades, his absence from the Hall of Fame was cited as one of the game's most egregious omissions. That long-overdue justice finally arrived when Gradishar was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024, taking his rightful place among the immortals in Canton.