ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A pair of former Broncos have earned the franchise's highest honor.
Former safety Steve Foley and former tight end Riley Odoms have been elected to the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, the team announced Thursday.
Foley and Odoms are the first new additions to the Broncos' Ring of Fame since 2021, when Peyton Manning was elected. The Ring of Fame now features 37 former players, coaches and administrators.
"Steve Foley and Riley Odoms represent the best of the Broncos, and we're thrilled they will now take their long-awaited places in the Ring of Fame," Broncos Owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner said in a statement. "Each has individually made history by setting records and high standards while playing integral roles in team success. It's fitting to honor Steve and Riley in a year of extraordinary celebrations that include Randy Gradishar's Pro Football Hall of Fame election and the rest of our first Super Bowl team from 1977."
The Broncos' all-time interception leader, Foley recorded 44 picks during his 11-year career (1976-86) in Denver. After being drafted by the Broncos in the eighth round of the 1975 NFL Draft, Foley began his professional career with the World Football League's Jacksonville Express for a season. He then joined Denver, where he served as a key cog in the famed Orange Crush defense and helped the Broncos to two Super Bowl appearances during his career.
Foley played cornerback during from 1976 before transitioning to safety during the 1980 season. He recorded at least six interceptions in three seasons and had at least five interceptions in five different campaigns. Foley twice ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in interceptions, reaching that mark in both 1978 and 1979. He also started 136 of the 150 regular-season games in which he appeared.
As part of the Orange Crush defense, Foley helped the Broncos earn their first playoff berth and march to an appearance in Super Bowl XII. A decade later, he also started in Super Bowl XXI. He becomes the sixth member of the Orange Crush defense to be elected to the Ring of Fame.
Foley played quarterback at the high school and collegiate levels before transitioning to the defensive side of the ball in the professional ranks. Foley was previously inducted into Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
While Foley patrolled the Broncos' defensive backfield, Odoms helped pace the Broncos' offense. The fifth-overall pick in 1972, Odoms earned two first-team All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowls during his 12-year career with the Broncos from 1972-83. Odoms earned his first first-team selection in 1974, becoming just the second played in team history to earn the honor. Odoms is one of 13 Broncos to earn multiple first-team All-Pro nods since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, and he was one of just two eligible players not in the Ring of Fame before his selection on Tuesday.
Odoms recorded 396 receptions for 5,755 yards and 41 touchdowns, ranking third in receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history at the time of his retirement. He still ranks seventh in franchise history in receiving yards and holds a franchise record for the most consecutive games (7) with a touchdown catch.
He began his career by playing 112 consecutive regular-season games, and he led the team in receptions in 1973, 1974, 1977 and 1978. He led the Broncos in receiving yards in 1973-75 and 1978. Odoms also posted the most — or tied for the most — receiving touchdowns on the team in four different seasons.
Odoms — a Texas native — played his high school football at West Oso (Corpus Christi) and collegiate football at the University of Houston, and he was elected to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in February. Odoms is the second tight end to be elected to the Broncos' Ring of Fame, joining Shannon Sharpe.
The Denver Broncos Ring of Fame was created in 1984 and is displayed on the level 5 facade at Empower Field at Mile High. Each Ring of Famer is also honored with an eight-foot bronze-and-steel pillar in Ring of Fame Plaza outside of the stadium.
Denver had not elected multiple individuals to the Ring of Fame in the same year since 2016, when John Lynch, Simon Fletcher and Jason Elam were all inducted.
