Mike Shanahan, Dan Reeves, and Randy Gradishar Are Being Considered For The Pro Football Hall Of Fame Class of 2023

By Jordan Long

The Pro Football Hall of Fame listed 54 seniors, coaches, and contributors as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Among these are 2 former Denver Broncos’ coaches and a player.  Those are Mike Shanahan, Dan Reeves, and Randy Gradishar.

                Mike Shanahan should be a no-brainer.  Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos from 1985 to 1987.  In 1988, he received his first gig to be a Head Coach for at the time Los Angeles Raiders lasting from 1988 until 4 games in 1989.  Overall with the Raiders Shanahan’s record was 8-12.  He didn’t have much of a chance to be their coach.

                In 1991 he returned to the Mile High City to be the offensive coordinator. He left in 1992 to join the San Francisco 49ers to be part of George Seifert’s staff.  There the 49ers appeared in Super Bowl 29 beating the San Diego Chargers 49-26.

                He returned to Denver in 1995 and became the greatest Head Coach in Broncos’ history.  That lasted until 2008. His overall record as the Head Coach for the Denver Broncos stands at 138-86, a winning percentage of .616.  Those wins are number 1 in Broncos’ history. Denver earned a playoff spot 7 times while advancing to 2 Super Bowls.  Of course, Denver won Super Bowl 32 and 33.  He was let go after an 8-8 finish in 2008.

                Shanahan moved on to the at the time Washington Redskins. He didn’t do as well, lasting 4 years.  His record there was a disappointing 24-40. Shanahan’s final year of coaching occurred in 2013.  Washington finished 3-13 and he was fired.  Overall, Shanahan’s Head Coaching record ended at 170-138. He won 2 Super Bowls. There is not much more for him to prove he was a Hall of Fame Coach.  It’s time to put him in.

                Dan Reeves is just as deserving as Mike Shanahan.  Reeves spent 1981 to 1992 as the Broncos’ Head Coach.  In his time with Denver, his teams went an overall 110-73 with 1 tie, a winning percentage of .601. Those wins rank 2^nd in Broncos’ history, only Shanahan has more. During his tenure, the Broncos earned a playoff spot 6 times while advancing to 3 Super Bowls.  This should qualify him as a Hall of Fame Coach, even though he didn’t win a Super Bowl.  Results may not have been there but it is difficult for an NFL franchise to even go to the Super Bowl once, let alone 3 times with one Head Coach.

                The Broncos fired Reeves following an 8-8 record in 1992.  In 1993, The New York Giants hired Reeves, but he didn’t have success, lasting 4 years.  His overall record with the Giants was 31-33.  The Giants earned a playoff spot once, in 1993 when they went 11-5.  The Giants fired Reeves after a 6-10 record in 1996.

The Atlanta Falcons appointed him as Head Coach for the 1997 season.  Reeves went to one Super Bowl with them, Super Bowl 33 but they lost to the Denver Broncos.  The Falcons earned a playoff spot one more time in 2002.  Reeves was relieved of his Head Coaching duties when they fired him 14 weeks into 2003.  Atlanta stood at 3-10.

Reeves finished his coaching career at 190-165 with 2 ties, a winning percentage of .535.  His teams went to the playoffs 9 times while going to 4 Super Bowls, more than enough for him to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  His resume isn’t as great as Shanahan’s but still he deserves it.

                One other name up for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Denver Broncos is Randy Gradishar. He was part of the Orange Crush defense for the Denver Broncos in 1977.  That defense went to Super Bowl 12 but lost to the Dallas Cowboys. 

Gradishar’s career lasted from 1974 to 1983.  During that time, he became one of the best tackling linebackers for the Denver Broncos. According to the gazette.com, when Gradishar retired he finished with the highest amount of tackles in NFL history at 2,049.  That shows he needs to be in.  The Broncos may not have gone to the Super Bowl without him making plays.  It is way overdue for Gradishar.

                All of these names are part of the 54 names for the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame.  For Gradishar, he will find out on August 16th if he is a finalist.  This is when the Seniors Committee will meet to pick up to 3 senior finalists.  For Shanahan and Reeves, they have to wait until August 23rd when the   Coach/Contributor Committee members meet.  They will pick one Coach or Contributor for final consideration for the Class of 2023.  These former Broncos should be in.  It is long overdue.  Hopefully, the Pro Football Hall of Fame realizes it, but we will have to wait and see.