Randy Gradishar

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Randy Gradishar bigraphy, stories - American football player

Randy Gradishar : biography

March 3, 1952 –

Randy Charles Gradishar (born March 3, 1952) is a former American football linebacker who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A native of Ohio, Gradishar was a two-time consensus All-American for the Ohio State Buckeyes, before playing ten seasons for the NFL’s Denver Broncos, where he was the centerpiece of the "Orange Crush Defense".

High school career

Gradishar is a 1970 graduate of Champion High School, Champion, Ohio. During his high school career, Randy lettered all three years in both football and basketball. As a high school football player, Randy received honors including All-League, All-County, and the Star Helmet Award.

In basketball he was the leading rebounder for three years and the second leading scorer for two years, receiving All-League and All-County honors. Randy holds the high school records for most blocked shots (44), single game rebounds (26), and most career rebounds (817).

In 2004 Randy was inducted into the Champion High School Hall of Fame for Athletics. He was presented by his former high school coach, Al Carrino., Champion Local School District

Post-NFL activities

  • Has made several trips to the Middle East, visiting troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as visiting Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar., DenverBroncos.com., Susan G. Komen for the Cure
  • Was president of the Denver Broncos Youth Foundation from 1982–92, DenverBroncos.com.
  • Served on the NFL Players Special Advisory Council from 1992–1995.
  • Currently the Director of Corporate Communications for the Phil Long Dealerships in Colorado. Phil Long is the largest privately owned car dealer group in Colorado.
  • Has a left ring finger shaped like the number "7".
  • Was sympathetic to college coach Woody Hayes when he punched a player in the 1978 Gator Bowl. Gradishar knew Hayes would be fired but stated publicly that "We all go off the deep end sometimes. Woody just happened to do it in front of millions of people." Gradishar emphasized the positive aspects of Hayes: "Every time you talked to him, it was, ‘How are you doing in school, when are you going to graduate, are you going to be a doctor or a lawyer?
  • Worked with Promise Keepers in Denver from 1994–97.
  • Participated in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure celebrity race to raise awareness and funds for research into curing breast cancer.
  • Serves as an Honorary Chair for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization., Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
  • Is president of the Phil Long Community Fund, a non-profit organization that provides financial resources to help champion self-esteem and the leadership of young people through excellence in education, sports, and recreation.
  • Known for wearing a rare Riddell mask that Helmet Hut expert Dr. DelRye thought was one of the few Riddell models that "looked cool"., Helmet Hut.

College career

Gradishar, who graduated with a degree in Distributive Education, was a three-year starter with the Ohio State University from 1971 to 1973. Former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes called Gradishar "the best linebacker I ever coached". He made 134 tackles in his senior year, 60 of them solo, to lead the team.

"Randy Gradishar is the finest linebacker I ever coached"
Woody Hayes

In Gradishar’s three years with the Buckeyes, all as a starter, the team had a 25–6–1 record, with two Big Ten Conference championships. Gradishar’s final collegiate game was a 42–21 victory over the University of Southern California in the 1974 Rose Bowl, to complete a 10–0–1 season. In his senior season the Ohio State defense allowed only 64 points and posted four shutouts., Gannett News Service

Against Washington State in 1973 Gradishar made 22 tackles, then the second most in a game in Ohio State history, and still stands as 9th best. His 320 career tackles were the most in school history when Gradishar left Ohio State and now stands as 11th best in team history.