It’s funny when things come full circle.

I’m a second-generation Bronco fan. I followed in my dad’s footsteps. I’ve been a Broncos fan for 28 years. I am 28 years old. This is something that is ingrained in me. I love the Broncos more than some (and maybe most, depending on the season) actual family members. But it’s a familial connection that sparked that love to begin with.

I became a Broncos fan, in a way, because of Randy Gradishar. I wrote about this upon his selection, so I won’t go too deep into this same story again. But long story short: my dad became a fan because of Gradishar and raised me as one. Things coming full circle always fascinate me.

This past week, they did.

Getting to write a series of stories all about the man who shaped so much of my life as a sports fan was surreal to say the least. That’s already something that not many people get to say.

Over the last few months, I’ve spoken with people I never thought I’d talk to, assembling an All-Star cast to talk all about Gradishar.

Tom Jackson, Billy Thompson, Steve Foley, Archie Griffin – I mean, come on. Legends of the game. To not only talk with these guys, but pick their brains about the game, and one of Denver’s greatest athletes, was such a neat experience.

But it was more than just writing those five stories.

I got to cover his induction ceremony, standing maybe 10 feet away from him as he gave his speech. Close enough to where I’m apparently visible on the broadcast. Like I’m pretty sure Peyton Manning of all people was watching me take photos of Gradishar during his speech.

I went into the Hall of Fame for the first time in over a decade and took a quick walkthrough because it had been so long. Safe to say, it looks completely different.

Seeing all the Gradishar memorabilia in the room when you first enter the Hall of Fame, alongside the other inductees was a surreal feeling. I had complained for years, even before my yearly column advocating for his inclusion, that Gradishar was a glaring omission from the Hall. That’s when it finally felt real.

But even cooler than all of that? I was fortunate enough to attend the friends and family afterparty hosted by the Broncos. And while it was because of my work, it wasn’t for work, which kind of let me appreciate the moment as a fan, which felt nice to do for a change.

I kind of missed being a fan and getting to “fan out” so to speak. I took pictures with people, I chatted in a “non-work” way, I even got to enjoy the signature drink of the night. Unsurprisingly, it used Orange Crush, the pop, as part of the recipe. I was able to just kind of be a regular guy.

I talked quite a bit with Louis Wright, one of the NFL’s first true “lockdown” cornerbacks, and arguably the next Orange Crush member with a Hall of Fame resume. Not about anything important either really. It was kind of weird. After introducing myself, he wanted to pick my brain, asking about why I started writing and my process and things like that.

It would have been a neat experience regardless of who it was, but the fact that it was this full-circle moment for me took it to the next level.

I truly cannot thank the Gradishar family enough for not only being such a great help in telling this story, but to let me in and celebrate with them. I’m hoping I did right by you guys and the legacy left.

I know there isn’t anything I did to get him into the Hall of Fame, his resume obviously speaks for itself, but deep down, I’d like to think my complaints were heard, and I helped him over the finish line.

Thank you to everyone that helped me make this project happen, because it was a full team effort. Ron Katz, Chris Tomasson, everyone I interviewed and my friends and family for putting up with me during this insanely stressful period of my life.

Have an interesting story? Contact Brian Yauger by email at byauger@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @_brianyauger.