Ohio State Football: Randy Gradishar should already be in HOF
Former Ohio State football player Randy Gradishar was a finalist for the HOF this year but was snubbed again. The great LB should have already been inducted.
Randy Gradishar was a two-time All-American and was named to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team. During his three year college career the great middle linebacker recorded 322 tackles, and during his senior season the Buckeyes only allowed 64 points in 11 games.
Gradishar continued his stellar play in the NFL and should have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame but was snubbed again this year.
After being drafted in the first round in 1974, he was a mainstay of the Denver Broncos’ defense for 10 seasons. During that time, Denver’s defense was usually among the best in the NFL and became known as the “Orange Crush”.
Gradishar was an inside linebacker who could stop a ball carrier between the tackles or chase him down if he ran outside. He could also help in pass defense and his 20 interceptions are proof that was the case.
Possibly the reason he wasn’t inducted into the Hall of Fame this last time was because some of the voters never saw him play. If that was the case, they should have just looked at the numbers he put up and how he was honored during his playing days.
Those stats and honors stack up favorably to a middle linebacker who played at the same time, and nobody questions him being in the Hall of Fame.
Jack Lambert recorded 1,479 tackles during his career. He was a 1st team All Pro 6 times and 2nd team twice. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1976.
Randy Gradishar recorded 2,049 tackles, was a 6 time All Pro and Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. Gradishar played one less game than Lambert (145-146) but had 570 more tackles.
As a Cleveland Browns fan I certainly didn’t pull for Lambert since he played for the Steelers. But there is no doubt he deserves to be a Hall of Famer.
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Now it’s past time for the other great linebacker drafted the same year as Lambert to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Randy Gradishar deserves that honor.