Broncos' great Randy Gradishar grateful long road ended at Hall of Fame

One more hour was nothing for Randy Gradishar, the former Broncos' linebacker who waited decades to take the stage at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Gradishar grew up an hour from Canton, but no member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 waited longer for an induction ceremony. A four-time finalist in his 35th year of eligibility, Gradishar took the stage at last on Saturday to celebrate the men that helped him get there. The Hall of Fame Senior committee approved Gradishar for this class. He said his journey to defeat doubters, starting at Ohio State, was the real reason he made it even after a knee injury. "Coach (John) Ralston took a chance on me and drafted me back in 1974. The rest is history," Gradishar said. "Broncos coaches Red Miller, Dan Reeves, Stan Jones, Joe Collier and Myrel Moore believed in me and encouraged me. That encouragement was the greatest gift those coaches would give to me, and to our team." A five-time All-Pro in 10 seasons, Gradishar was presented by "Orange Crush" teammate Tom Jackson. Several other members of Denver's 1980s teams were in attendance to celebrate. "His character is built around his family, his faith and hard work. That, to me, is the reason he's in Canton, Ohio," Jackson said. Return specialist Devin Hester, who also was enshrined Saturday, said too often players can be enamored with what they want to be. "I wanted to be a running back, but God's plan wasn't that for me," Hester said. "I embraced God's plan for me. And mostly I accepted it. I accepted my calling. By me embracing it, it made me the best returner to ever walk the face of the Earth. At least -- as of right now." Hester was one of three Chicago Bears to be enshrined, along with Julius Peppers and Steve McMichael. Peppers spent most of his career with the Carolina Panthers. Hester holds the NFL record with 20 overall return touchdowns, as well as the league record with 14 punt return TDs. Hester's highlights include returning the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown against Indianapolis. He also caught 255 passes for 3,311 yards and 16 touchdowns during his career. Dwight Freeney's size (6-foot-1, 268 pounds) didn't deter the Colts from drafting him with the 11th pick in the 2002 draft, nine spots behind Peppers. He was on the Colts' Super Bowl XLI championship team with numerous Hall of Famers and retired after 16 NFL seasons with 125.5 sacks, 148 quarterback hits and 128 tackles for loss. His 47 forced fumbles tied for third on the NFL's all-time list. The first of the class in attendance to speak Saturday, Freeney's personal guest list included another Hall of Famer -- Michael Jordan -- and Colts CEO Jim Irsay. Freeney briefly spoke to youth dreaming of reaching their own Gold Jacket moment one day, advising them the journey can seem impossible and is not easy. He thanked his Hall of Fame predecessors and teammates for paving his path. "Peyton Manning, I watched how you prepared day in and day out so you could be your best. That taught me the importance of preparation, so that I was never surprised by my opponent. Marvin Harrison, I watched you practice full speed every day, which taught me that practice was a place to master my craft. You made every route look the same, which helped me be a better pass rusher, try to make all my moves look the same," Freeney said. "Edgerrin James, you taught me how to be a true pro on and off the field. You're a great teammate, and a pretty good roommate before the games, even though you wouldn't let me adjust the temperature above 59 degrees, man. I'll never forget that." Peppers was the lone first-ballot entry in the '24 class, starring for 17 seasons with the Panthers (2002-09, 2017-18), Bears (2010-13) and Green Bay Packers (2014-16). He is fourth on all-time sacks list with 159.5 and the only player in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and at least 10 interceptions. A two-sport athlete at North Carolina before being selected No. 2 in the 2002 draft, Peppers acknowledged Jordan, a fellow Tar Heel and said his lasting lesson has nothing to do with football. "Whatever it is that you do -- do it with respect, integrity, passion, resilience, dedication and gratitude. That alone will make you a Hall of Fame person," Peppers said. Andre Johnson is the first player from the Houston Texans' franchise to enter the Hall of Fame, giving all 32 current franchises an on-field representative in Canton. Johnson recorded 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns with 10 games with at least 10 receptions and 150 yards. The entire current roster of the Texans stayed in Canton since Thursday's Hall of Fame Game and more than two dozen former teammates were on hand. "I just wanted to be known as one of the best players to ever play the game, but now I get to go to football heaven, where I can enjoy the ultimate closure to my career," Johnson said. A 270-pound nose tackle with a relentless motor and sneaky strength, McMichael was a member of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears. He was drafted by the New England Patriots but his most prominent seasons came at the heart of the Bears' defense on a line that included Dan Hampton and Richard Dent with Mike Singletary lined up behind him. McMichael, bedridden and battling ALS at his Chicagoland home, was surrounded by former teammates and family when he was presented his jacket and bust on Saturday afternoon. His sister, Kathy, read a statement McMichael prepared: "Hey Chicago, Bears fans and Mongo fans. Woo hoo! I'm in the Hall of Fame, baby! I want to thank the Hall of Fame, the Senior selection committee, the Chicago Bears and all the fans, the best fans in the world and the best city to play football in. I played 15 years in the NFL and loved every minute of every down. I played with the greatest players in the NFL and the greatest defense to this day, baby. "I want to thank all my teammates. It's an honor to join my teammates Walter Payton, Richard Dent, Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Jimbo Covert, coach (Mike) Ditka, coach (Buddy) Ryan and all the Bears before us. I'd like to say a special thank you to my pseudo-son Jarrett Payton for introducing me. I want to thank my family, my father Mac, my brother Richard, my sisters Sharon and Katherine Denise. To my wife Misty, thank you for giving me my beautiful daughter Macy. To Macy, you'll always be my little girl. Daddy loves you. And finally, to my mother, we made it, momma! Your baby made it! Bear down and hook 'em!" 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis finished with seven Pro Bowl selections in eight years with San Francisco. He was voted in and became the 378th member of the Hall of Fame on his fifth year of eligibility despite an injury-shortened career. "To my family, friends, teammates, teachers, mentors, doctors, equipment managers, trainers and everyone else -- you know who you are -- thank you for always being there for me and with me," Willis said. "Because of all of you I stand here today honored to be wearing this gold jacket, standing shoulder to shoulder with the great ones in the National Football League. I am elated to now know that I will not be simply known as Patrick Willis, but as Hall of Famer, Patrick Willis, Mr. 378." --Field Level Media