ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — He wasn't used to losing.
Before Riley Odoms' Ring of Fame career, he starred at the University of Houston. In three years, he recorded 883 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns as the Cougars posted a 26-8 record.
Odoms was accustomed to success, and he arrived in Denver in 1972 unfamiliar with the struggles he would soon face.
By the middle of November during his rookie season, Odoms and the Broncos suffered as many losses as he did during his entire collegiate career. It was a stark awakening, and the fan base's displeasure was clear.
After one road preseason loss, Odoms remembers flying back and seeing a sign waiting for the team.
"Welcome home [to] the Denver Donkeys," Odoms recalled the sign reading.
"I wasn't used to that kind of negativity," Odoms said Thursday. "… I'm going, 'What did I get myself into?'"
At that moment, the Broncos had no history of team success on which to rely. Their previous best campaign came in 1962, when Denver started 7-2 but proceeded to lose its final five games to finish the season with a .500 mark.
Odoms, though, would help spur change and build the standard to which the franchise still holds itself. In 1973, the Broncos posted their first winning record — and they would earn their first playoff berth and Super Bowl appearance just a few seasons later in 1977.
The fifth-overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, Odoms played a major role in the turnaround. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound player recorded three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 1973-75 and added first-team All-Pro nods in the latter two campaigns. He recorded at least five receiving touchdowns in five different seasons, and he posted at least 500 receiving yards from 1973-75.
Odoms — who finished his career with the third most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history — agreed with a reporter's sentiment Thursday that he may have helped revolutionize the tight end position.
"My speed and coordination did me very well over the years from high school and to the Denver Broncos," Odoms said. "Did I revolutionize that? Yes, I could play along with anybody back then."
Put more simply, Odoms' significant frame and athleticism gave him a unique advantage over cornerbacks — and he'd often make that known on the field. Former quarterback Craig Morton referred to Odoms as "Judge" — and fellow Ring of Fame electee Steve Foley said Odoms was often the jury, too.
"He was judge and jury when he caught a pass," Foley said. "He would punish a defensive back. … He was a vicious tight end, as well as a great blocker and pass receiver."
View photos from former Broncos tight end Riley Odoms' Ring of Fame career.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball on a reception during a game against the New England Patriots on November 28, 1976 at Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) greets Broncos owner Edgar Kaiser before a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 20, 1981. Photo by Barry Staver
Jim Jensen and Riley Odoms walk off the field together.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball on a reception during a game against the San Diego Chargers on September 17, 1978 at Mile High Stadium.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the balls during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Mile High Stadium on November 8, 1981. Photo by Rod Hanna
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms runs with the ball after a reception during game action. Photo by Rod Hanna
A headshot for Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball after a reception during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 2, 1979 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs a route during an October 13, 1974 game against the New Orleans Saints at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms runs through the back of the end zone as a field judge evaluates whether it was a touchdown during a game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Rod Hanna
Riley Odoms runs with the ball during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs into the end zone for a touchdown reception during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 18, 1979 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball on a reception during a game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs during a play at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado on November 21, 1982. Photo by Rod Hanna
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) poses for a portrait.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball after a reception during a game.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on December 18, 1983. Photo by Rod Hanna
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) sits on the bench during a break in play in a game at Mile High Stadium.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) looks on from the sideline during a game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs onto the field during team and player introductions before a game against the Detroit Lions at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado on October 11, 1981. Photo by Rod Hanna
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) looks on from the sideline during a game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Rod Hanna
Head Coach Dan Reeves talks with tight end Riley Odoms during a January 2, 1983 loss (11-13) to the Seahawks in Seattle.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball on a reception during a game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball after a reception during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball after a reception against the New York Jets. Photo by Rod Hanna
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball during a game against the Cleveland Browns on November 8, 1981 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Rod Hanna
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mile High Stadium.
Denver Broncos tight end Riley Odoms (88) runs with the ball after a reception during a game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Odoms agreed that once he caught a pass along the sideline, he wouldn't let anyone prevent him from scoring six points.
"If I could get to that sideline, then I'm getting to that end zone," Odoms said. "There was nobody that was going to stop me or push me out on my routes or on anything down that sideline. I just looked for that goal line."
Odoms received the surprise phone call Thursday from Owner & CEO Greg Penner that he'd been elected to the Ring of Fame, and he'll be officially inducted during the Broncos' Week 5 game against the Raiders.
"I'm very happy," Odoms said. "I'm happy that … there's no waiting anymore. It's just the opportunity. I'm feeling good, I'm feeling great. I feel great because I always loved playing in Colorado. I loved the fans, and I never had an opportunity to just tell them how thankful I was to play for them."
He'll get that chance in October — and the gratitude and appreciation will surely be returned after Odoms helped the Broncos move past the days of the Denver Donkeys. Instead, he helped set the table for the franchise's championship teams.
"It all changed," Odoms said. "It all changed in one season when we started winning."
