Broncos greats Steve Foley, Riley Odoms elected to Ring of Fame

Riley Odoms and Steve Foley helped the Broncos reach their first Super Bowl in 1977. They will now join the team’s Ring of Fame in 2024.

The Denver Broncos announced that former teammates safety Steve Foley and tight end Riley Odoms have been elected to the team’s Ring of Fame on Thursday.

Odoms and Foley were teammates on the first Super Bowl roster in Broncos history in 1977, where they were eventually defeated by the Dallas Cowboys 27-10. The duo will be the 12th and 13th members of the 1977 team to be inducted into the Ring of Fame, joining quarterback Craig Morton, wide receivers Haven Moses and Rick Upchurch, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, owner Gerald Phipps, defensive tackle Paul Smith, safety Billy Thompson, kicker Jim Turner, cornerback Louis Wright and head coach Red Miller.

Foley was part of the back end of the famed “Orange Crush” defense, which was anchored by linebacker Randy Gradishar. Foley played his entire career for the Broncos from 1976-1986, starting 136 of 150 total games, snatching 44 interceptions (a franchise record) with 622 return yards.

Odoms caught a total of 41 touchdowns from 1972-1983, totaling 5,755 yards. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-Team AP All-Pro.

The 2024 campaign is shaping up to be a huge year for this historic roster. Randy Gradishar is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, the first member of the “Orange Crush” defense to receive this distinction. In addition, Denver will roll out special throwback jerseys that specifically honor the 1977 Super Bowl team.

Gradishar, Odoms, Foley and the rest of the 1977 team will be honored during Week 5’s Alumni Week game against the Las Vegas Raiders, one of the Broncos’ oldest rivals.

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Broncos to honor Super Bowl XXXII team in Week 7

25 years after their first title, the Broncos will honor their Super Bowl XXXII team in Week 7 this fall.

“This one’s for John!” former Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen declared at the end of Super Bowl XXXII.

Twenty-five years ago, the Broncos won their first Super Bowl, a 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers. In 2022, Denver will honor those who made this seemingly impossible dream a reality.

“The 25th anniversary of the Broncos’ first Super Bowl championship is a special occasion deserving of a tribute that celebrates how much the 1997 team means to our organization and fans,” Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement.

This “special occasion” will happen on October 23 at halftime of their matchup against the New York Jets in Week 7. Throughout the year, Denver will also share programs and other media content from that historic season.

The 1997 season was unforgettable for any true Broncos fan. Denver’s roster featured five Pro Football Hall of Famers and three additional Ring of Famers. They won two road playoff games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs before going into Super Bowl XXXII as 11-point underdogs.

During the fourth quarter of the game, quarterback John Elway’s signature “Helicopter” play became the defining moment the game and the season. During the league’s 100-year celebration, Super Bowl XXXII was named 27 out of 100 greatest games in NFL history. It is also listed as the fourth out of top 10 Super Bowls of all time, according to NFL Films. Its significance is not lost on Denver today.

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