ENGLEWOOD • Steve Foley got a phone call Thursday morning from Broncos owner Greg Penner and then scrambled over to team’s practice facility. Riley Odoms was sitting in his favorite armchair at his Houston home when he also received a call from Penner.

The news delivered to the two was the same. Penner told them they will be inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame at halftime of an Oct. 6 game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High.

“What a great day for me,’’ said Foley, who lives in the Denver area and talked with Broncos head coach Sean Payton and the team following an organized team activities practice. “I woke up to a phone call from Greg Penner and did not expect that. I am extremely humbled and honored.”

Foley was a Broncos star defensive back from 1976-86 and remains the team’s all-time leader in interceptions with 44. Odoms starred at tight end for Denver from 1972-83, and had 396 catches for 5,755 yards and 41 touchdowns.

“I was sitting here in my ‘honey-do’ chair, which means I don’t go any further than this chair,’’ Odoms said from Houston about receiving the call from Penner. “I was sitting here and I’m thinking, ‘What is (his wife) going to come tell me to do today that I don’t want to do.’ Than I get a call (from Penner). … It sure feels great when the top man calls to talk to you and tell you some good news. … I was very excited.”

The additions of Foley and Odoms will result in 37 inductees into the Ring of Fame. The Broncos had not inducted anyone into the Ring of Fame the past two seasons, and this marks the first new members since the Walton-Penner ownership group took over in August 2022.

It will be a busy day on Oct. 6, which will be during Alumni Weekend. The Broncos also will recognize 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Randy Gradishar and hold a reunion of their first Super Bowl team, one that in 1977 included Foley, Odoms and Gradishar. The Denver Gazette had previously reported that the Broncos were expected to have a reunion of the Super Bowl XII team to coincide with Gradishar being honored.

“It was just a special time,’’ Foley said of that season. “We had a special group of men.”

Foley, 70, said there was one thing missing about learning of his impending induction. He was not able to share it with Joe Collier, the defensive coordinator throughout his Broncos tenure who died May 6 at age 91.

“I have to say it is a little bittersweet that I cannot call my defensive coordinator,’’ Foley said. “(He was) almost like my second father.”

Foley was mostly a cornerback for his first 4½ seasons and mostly a safety for his final 6½. He recalled one of his greatest games being when he had the first two interceptions of his career off Dan Fouts in a 17-0 win at San Diego as a rookie on Nov. 14, 1976. It was the first start of his career at cornerback.

“(Collier) said, ‘You’re a rookie and (star cornerback) Louis (Wright) is fairly established. (Fouts is) not going to throw at Louis,’’’ Foley said. “I was like, ‘OK, nothing like a little pressure.’ … I got the game ball.”

Foley said last March, after the Broncos released star safety Justin Simmons, he had “told him personally” he wanted him to break his interception record. Foley reiterated Thursday that he had hoped Simmons, who had 30 interceptions in eight Denver seasons, “would break it.’’

“It will get broken,’’ Foley said before pausing and saying, “Maybe.”

Foley said he didn’t play during his career thinking of earning honors. But now he is thrilled to be inducted into the Ring of Fame along with Odoms.

“We called him, ‘The Judge’ for a reason,’’ Foley said. “He was judge and jury when he caught a pass. He would punish a defensive back.”

Odoms, 74, said quarterback Craig Morton gave him the “Judge” nickname because “there was nobody that was going to stop me or push me out on my routes.”

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound bruiser said he helped “revolutionize” the tight end position with his ability to both block and go downfield for passes. Odoms in the 1970s was named to four Pro Bowls and three times was selected first-team All-Pro. He had his best season in 1978, catching 54 passes for 829 yards.

“I’ve always been an outstanding athlete,’’ Odoms said. “So my speed and coordination did me very well over the years. … I could play along with anybody back then.”

Odoms recalled joining a Denver team in 1972 that went 5-9. It was the Broncos’ 13^th straight non-winning season since the franchise was formed in 1960.

“When we came back in at the airport, a big old sign said, ‘Welcome home the Denver Donkeys,’’’ Odoms said.

But Odoms said it was a thrill for the Broncos to have their first winning season in 1973, going 7-5-2. They made the playoffs for the first time in 1977, advancing to the Super Bowl before losing 27-10 to Dallas.

“I just found out that they’re bringing back the whole Super Bowl year team,’’ he said. “I feel that’s outstanding.”

After learning of his impending induction, Odoms spoke on the phone with Payton. And later in the day, Payton talked to Foley and had him address the team. Payton said his message was “playing for each other and winning” and honors will “take care of” themselves.

Payton, who previously coached the New Orleans Saints, said he had a link with Foley since he is a New Orleans native who once played quarterback at Tulane. And he made note of Collier having recently died.

“Joe Collier would be really proud today of both of the inductees,’’ Payton said.

When asked by The Denver Gazette last year to list players he believed should be in the Ring of Fame, the first two Collier named were Foley and Odoms.