Why aren't there more Denver Broncos in the Hall of Fame?

There’s a nostalgia to a Hall of Fame.

As is the case with any museum, it gives you an appreciation for the history and how we got to where we are today. Even if you “know” the history of a said sport, the Hall of Fame is your time machine to get a glimpse of the moments and people in time immortalized.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is no different.

From the start of professional football prior to 1920 to today, if you don’t get the chills as you walk through the halls and see the exhibits, you’re not a football fan.

The players, the characters, the moments, the plays … the nostalgia is overpowering. For fans of specifics teams, that runs even deeper. There is an inherent connection to that specific team, and while the history of the league is powerful and emotional, it can’t compete with our favorite team.

The Denver Broncos’ players, characters, moments and plays have a connection to where we were, who we are and how we got here. Floyd Little and John Elway. Lyle Alzado and Bill Romanowski (you could include Shannon Sharpe among the characters). Pat Bowlen in his fur coat and the Barrel Man in the South Stands. The Drive and the Helicopter.

When you go to Canton, most of what was just mentioned is there, but so much is not. It’s the question often asked but never answered because there isn’t one: Why aren’t more Broncos in the Hall of Fame?

There are four players in the Hall of Fame from Denver. Four. Let that sink in. An organization that has more Super Bowl appearances than losing seasons the last 30 years. An organization that won back-to-back Super Bowls. That had one of the greatest defenses to ever step on a field, the Orange Crush, has four players enshrined in Canton.

Randy Gradishar.

Louis Wright.

Tom Jackson.

Karl Mecklenburg.

Steve Atwater.

Terrell Davis.

Rod Smith.

Tom Nalen.

Jason Elam.

Mr. Bowlen.

Those are the ones who should already be in but aren’t.

Why aren’t they? Why don’t they have a bust in Canton, and in some cases, never will?

The biggest slight of anyone in the Broncos’ organization is Gradishar. He was one of the best linebackers to ever play the game of football. I’m not going to reel off his stats because at this point fans knows them. If they don’t, shame on you and look them up.

All one needs to know about Gradishar’s slight comes from Merlin Olsen, one of the greatest defensive linemen for the iconic defensive line, the Four Horsemen:

“If you ask me to name the five best linebackers I played against or had a chance to cover in my broadcasting career, Randy Gradishar would be on that list. He was the kind of player that I would have loved to have as a teammate. There is no question about credentials here; Randy Gradishar belongs in the Hall of Fame.”

Olsen isn’t alone, there are more.

Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent:

“Randy Gradishar absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame. Frankly, I’m surprised he is not in already …  His play was characterized by intensity and intelligence. No one played harder or smarter than Randy. He had the proverbial ‘nose for the football.’ His size, speed, intelligence, and work habits separated him from the other players at his position, and on short yardage, his ability to anticipate the hole and beat the ball carrier to it were the best in football.”

Hall of Fame coach Don Shula:

“My personal recollection of Gradishar is that he was one of the finest inside linebackers in the 3-4 defense. His tackling ability plus being a ball hawk, 20 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries, rank with the best that have played the position. His statistics and number of Pro Bowls match up well with other linebackers in the Hall of Fame. I believe he is worthy of consideration.”

Why isn’t Gradishar in the Hall of Fame?

The questions posed above are impossible to answer because it’s based on the opinions of the 46 members who vote for the Hall of Fame. It’s based on the senior committee who elects its member. In all cases, it’s subjective. We have no idea what they base their decision on. We have no clue the emotional connection they feel to a specific player or organization. In some cases, to a city. They’re fans like the rest of us. They feel that same sense of nostalgia.

Oh, we can assume how the members make the decisions they do, but that’s fruitless and doesn’t solve anything. It may take our minds off the slight to specific players or teams, that’s about it.

Fans can shout from the rooftops, they can call out the members on social media, but that does no good. Where people make the mistake, and I’m just as guilty on this as anyone, is comparing players chosen for the Hall of Fame to players who are not. There’s so much more at play, the opinion of the member, the emotional connection to the player, the emotional connection to the team or city, knowledge of the game, and so on. We’ll never know.

When Little was inducted in 2010, longtime Broncos radio play-by-play man Dave Logan told me he was hopeful this would finally start to turn the tide in favor of the Broncos. That the players who deserve recognition would finally get it. That it was the voters’ wakeup call to years of being overlooked and shunned.

Five years later, the fans and organization are still waiting.

Jackson will take the stage tonight in Canton as the winner of the Pete Rozelle Award. In the almost 30 years he’s been at ESPN he doesn’t hide the fact he bleeds Broncos’ orange but hasn’t talked up his former teammates and why they should be in the Hall of Fame. My guess is that will continue tonight, but what a perfect moment to say it’s beyond time for the organization and its players to finally get the recognition they deserve.

Why aren’t there more Broncos in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Great question.