Broncos hold reunion for iconic 1977 team while honoring Randy Gradishar, Steve Foley, Riley Odoms

After former Broncos defensive back Steve Foley saw the unveiling of his Ring of Fame pillar Sunday, he was asked to pose in front of it with some family members. A bit of a mob converged on the pillar.

Foley said about 90 to 100 family members were on hand for Denver’s 34-18 win over Las Vegas at Empower Field at Mile High. Before the game, the pillars were unveiled outside the stadium for Foley and fellow Ring of Fame inductee Riley Odoms. Inside the stadium, Randy Gradishar, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, was given his Hall of Fame ring before the game and Foley and Odoms were formally inducted at halftime.

“I didn't invite one person,’’ Foley, who played for the Broncos from 1976-86, said of all his family members on hand. “I knew our family, and once my brothers started to hear (about the induction), they said, 'Hey, we're coming, we're coming,' and then the nieces and nephews said, 'Let's take a road trip.'

“Some of them I haven't seen in 10 years, and they all decided (to come). We had two nieces that came from Asheville (N.C.), which got decimated (by Hurricane Helene), and I just gave them a big hug and kiss and thanked them, and they were glad to get out of the devastation just for a little bit.”

Foley, Odoms and Gradishar all starred on the 1977 Broncos, who made the playoffs for the first time in team history and advanced to Super Bowl XII. They were honored on Alumni Weekend, with the Broncos also having a reunion for the 1977 team and wearing throwback uniforms from that season against the Raiders.

“It's a beautiful get together of teammates,’’ Foley said. “This really isn't about me, it's about the teammates and the culture of Denver.”

Foley’s speech at halftime was 1 minute, 29 seconds and he shouted out for the Broncos to win the game. Odoms’ speech was just 29 seconds, and he also called for a Denver win.

Odoms, though, said a lot more to say before the game after his pillar was unveiled.

“It's everything that I dreamed of and even more,’’ said Odoms, who played for the Broncos from 1972-83 and shed some tears during the pre-game ceremony. “It took a long time to get here, but I'm going to be with it a long time to stay here. I'm very, very pleased to be here. … I’ve been waiting for it for so long. I'm thinking about it and it's true, and I can't just hold (the tears) back.”

It was Odoms’ first trip back to Denver since his last game with the team 41 years ago. He drove more than 1,000 miles in a rented Ford Exposition from his Houston home along with his wife Alnetia and one of her cousins.

“It took me 18 hours from Houston just to drive,’’ he said. “There was a little traffic jam out there in Dallas that held us back. Then we got lost in the night. …It was a long time, but it's a great time to be here.”

Asked when he would be driving home, Odoms said he didn’t know because he “lost the keys” to the rental car.

As for Gradishar, his induction had been in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 3. But Sunday marked the first time he had been introduced at Empower Fields since he was named to the Hall of Fame.

“Coming back and seeing the alumni guys and see the opportunity to relieve the 1977 season was just a blessing,’’ said Gradishar, who starred for Denver from 1974-83.

Gradishar joked about the size of his Hall of Fame ring, which he placed on his right ring finger.

“I think I’m going to put it on a scale and see how much it weighs,’’ he said. “It’s hurting my finger already.”

In his brief remarks to the crowd shortly before kickoff, Gradishar said, “I want to make sure I thank each and every one of you as fans for supporting the Broncos.”

The weekend for members of the 1977 team also included a private dinner Friday night at Shanahan’s Steakhouse and there was a Ring of Fame dinner Saturday night at the stadium. Foley said some of the players from the team he hadn’t seen in more than 40 years, including Odoms.