MIKE BROWN: Warren Champion grad Randy Gradishar should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The late Woody Hayes called him the best linebacker he ever coached at Ohio State.

Randy Gradishar, who starred at Warren Champion High School, Ohio State University and in the National Football League with the Denver Broncos, should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in my opinion.

And it’s not even close.

Randy Gradishar had an impressive history in the NFL

Gradishar was a tremendous middle linebacker on those great Bronco teams and retired as the organization’s all-time leading tackler with well over 2,000 tackles.

When I think of the great Denver teams in the 1970’s, Randy Gradishar is one of the first players that comes to mind, because opposing offenses would gear their game plan away from Gradishar who was so dominant in the middle. He was selected to multiple Pro Bowls as the leader of those great “Orange Crush” defenses.

Why he isn’t already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a mystery to me, because many of the greatest coaches and players in the game all agree he should be.

Let’s hope the Senior Committee will nominate Gradishar to take his rightful place in Canton in the near future.

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