Linebacker, Denver
Broncos
Age: 26
5th
season in pro football & with Broncos
College: Ohio
State
Height: 6’3” Weight: 233
Prelude:
An
All-American selection in both 1972 and ’73, Gradishar was chosen by the
Broncos in the first round of the 1974 NFL draft (14th overall).
Moving into the starting lineup at middle linebacker, he was chosen to the Pro
Bowl for the first time in 1975. A smart and overachieving player who was
especially effective against the run, Gradishar was a 2nd-team
All-AFC selection in ’76 and moved to inside linebacker in 1977 as the Broncos
switched to a 3-4 defense. Fueled by the “Orange Crush” defense, Denver won the
AFC title and Gradishar was a consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl
selection.
1978 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 4
Most
interceptions, game – 2 at Seattle 10/29
Int. yards – 19
Most int.
return yards, game – 8 (on 1 int.) vs. Seattle 10/1
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 2
Fumble
recovery TDs – 1 [2, tied with 13 others]
Scoring
TD – 1
Points – 6
Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at
Pittsburgh)
Sacks – N/A
Interceptions
– 0
Int. return
yards – 0
TD – 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Defensive
Player of the Year: AP
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Broncos went 10-6
to finish first in the AFC West while allowing the fewest passing TDs (9) in
the NFL and finishing a close second in fewest points allowed (198). Lost AFC
Divisional playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers (33-10).
Aftermath:
Gradishar
received first- and second-team All-NFL honors and was again chosen to the Pro
Bowl in 1979. He failed to make the Pro Bowl in ’80, a season in which he was
credited with 230 tackles, but was selected in each of the next three years.
Gradishar played a total of ten seasons, through 1983, and was selected to the
Pro Bowl seven times and received at least some All-NFL or AFC honors on eight
occasions. He was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1989.
--
MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press
International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league
itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of
the Year.
Gradishar should be in the Hall of Fame.
ReplyDeleteHis snubbing in favor of Fred Dean five years ago was galling.
The only reason that Dean was elected over Randy is because he was a 49er that played in the 80's and 90's, and the media used to kiss their behinds. Fred didn't have a case to be elected over Randy. I don't think that Andre Tippett did, either.