Ronnie Bradford (2024) - CU Athletic Hall of Fame - University of Colorado Athletics

Ronnie Bradford

Induction:
2024
Class:
1993

Lettered four years at cornerback (1989-92) under CU Hall of Fame coach Bill McCartney … The “author” of perhaps the most important play in Colorado football history, to this date, in the 133 years of the program: as a sophomore, his blocked extra point in the second quarter of the 1991 Orange Bowl kept the Notre Dame lead at 9-3; the Irish would not score again and the Buffs went ahead 10-9 in the third quarter and held on to win the school’s first (and only) national championship in football … He earned first-team All-Big Eight Conference honors as a senior, when he received CU’s Regiment Award (given to the player who had the greatest contribution but with the least recognition) … A two-year starter at corner, he played in 39 career games overall for the Buffaloes (35 regular season), making 74 tackles (53 unassisted), with 15 pass deflections, three interceptions and nine third down stops … Had another 12 tackles on special teams … He was selected in the fourth round (105th pick overall) by the Miami Dolphins in the 1993 NFL Draft … He would play 10 seasons in the league (133 games, 98 starts), with Denver (1993-95), Arizona (1996), Atlanta (1997-2001) and Minnesota (2002); the Broncos signed him as a free agent ahead of the ’93 season after Miami waived him during training camp … In his pro career, he was in on 422 tackles (340 solo), with 13 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), four fumble recoveries and two quarterback sacks … His first interception came in his rookie season in Denver against Kansas City and Hall of Famer Joe Montana … Ironically, the last interception thrown by John Elway was picked off by Bradford when he was with the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII … Once retiring from professional football, he immediately entered the coaching profession, returning to the Broncos where he coached the special teams for four seasons (2003-06) and the defensive backs for two (2007-08); he also spent two seasons in Kansas City coaching the defensive backs (2009-10) but has since been in the collegiate ranks with California (2010-12), Louisiana Tech (2013-15), Southern California (2016-18) and was on the defensive staff for the Montana Grizzlies (2021-23, reaching the ’23 FCS title game after he was promoted to coordinator) … He joined the Miami Dolphins as a senior special teams assistant in 2024 … One of a handful of players who played football in the state of Colorado in high school (Adams City High in Commerce City), CU and the Broncos … A USA Today honorable mention All-American in high school and Colorado’s 3A Defensive Player of the Year … He was born Oct. 1, 1970 in Minot, N.D.