Horse Tracks: Barney Chavous to be inducted into Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

One of the pillars of the Orange Crush Defense will get his due Wednesday night at the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Barney Chavous is not nearly the most famous name of the Orange Crush defenders.

The South Carolina native is generally remembered after rattling several other members of the Orange Crush first – Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson, Rubin Carter, Lyle Alzado, Louis Wright…

But he was no less crucial to the success of that famed Joe Collier-led defense.

In fact, the South Carolina State University graduate is one of only four Broncos players to reach the 75-sack milestone, behind Von Miller (110.5); Simon Fletcher (97.5); and Karl Mecklenburg (79). His name is not on the official leaderboard since sacks weren’t officially counted until 1983.

But ask any quarterback on the other side of the line, and Chavous was a known threat.

When Fletcher was inducted into the Ring of Fame in 2016, he mentioned Chavous among those before him blazing the path to pass-rushing prowess.

“If Rich Jackson, if Lyle Alzado, Barney Chavous and Rulon Jones, if Karl Mecklenburg hadn’t consistently set new benchmarks, then 97.5 would mean absolutely nothing,” Fletcher said.

He also recorded eight fumble recoveries for the Orange Crush. And with Chavous on the defensive line, the Broncos’ defense led the team to its first postseason in 1977, going all the way to Super Bowl XXII.

“He was a key member of the team’s Orange Crush defense which took shape in the late ‘70s,” the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame wrote in the announcement press release. “In Chavous’ [13] years with the Broncos, they posted just two losing seasons.”

Mike Klis pointed out in his recent feature on Chavous that perhaps this honor from CSHOF will spur the Broncos to put another member of the Orange Crush in their Ring of Fame. Currently there are nine, including Gradishar, Jackson and Billy Thompson. Chavous was the only Broncos player to have lasted 13 seasons and played in 182 games when he retired in 1985.

But Chavous isn’t too concerned about the Ring of Fame.

“The Broncos’ Ring of Fame would be nice, but you know what? At this point in my life, I’m just glad I can share this honor with my family and my grandchildren and my friends and my teammates,’’ Chavous told 9News. “They’re a part of this honor. It’s all about them and the Broncos’ organization. The Broncos were really good to me. My coaches. I had some great coaches. I was very blessed to play for Joe Collier my whole career. Dan Reeves, Mike Shanahan, I’ve been blessed to be with some great coaches. That’s what’s on my heart right now.”

Playing for Collier was a highlight for Chavous, who said the coach taught them professionalism, not just football.

“That’s why we were so good,” he told 9News. “The defense we had we didn’t get the recognition we deserved. We were one of the best defenses to ever play in the NFL. The records have showed that over the years.”

Chavous himself didn’t earn a lot of individual accolades, including never being named to the Pro Bowl. But his presence in the defense was felt.

“Barney is s-o-o-o underrated,’’ former Orange Crush cornerback Louis Wright said. “To me, Barney was one of the best in the league because he never got beat, one-on-one. People don’t appreciate that. Unless you jump up and down make a lot of noise, like Lyle did on the other side. But Barney was like the solid rock. The guy who held it together.’’

Rubin Carter, Chavous’ roommate during training camp and road games, pointed out that you never had to take Chavous off the field because he could play against the run or the pass.

“Never got his due, making Pro Bowls and things of that caliber but he was just a tremendous solid, consistent player all the time,” Carter said. “And one of the best demeanors off the field as anybody you want to meet. The way he carried himself. A classy man. Loved his wife, loved his family, loved his kids. Loved to hunt. He was a hunter. Just a down-to-earth guy.’’

Chavous will finally get his due on Wednesday night – but don’t think he has any plans for a big speech.

“I don’t practice speeches,’’ he said. “Whatever comes to my heart that’s what I’ll say. (Laughs). I’m not going to write anything down or all that. It’ll be pretty simple. I’ll accept this with humility because of all the people who helped me achieve it. My wife is probably the biggest factor. It’s not about me, it’s about others with me.”

Broncos/NFL News

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