By Budd Bailey, Buffalo Sports Page Columnist
Dave Foley – Signed by the Bills in 1972
Dave Foley’s timing couldn’t have been better when it came to the Bills. He arrived at the right time and the right place.
Foley had been an All-American at Ohio State and was part of the great 1968 national championship team there. That helped him become the New York Jets first-round pick in 1969, right after that team won the Super Bowl. Foley stayed for three seasons, but didn’t prove to be a great fit.
Just before the start of the 1972 season, Foley was put on waivers by the Jets – and the Bills grabbed him. New coach Lou Saban was putting together a new offense built around halfback O.J. Simpson, and needed as many good linemen as he could find. Foley was moved from right tackle to left tackle, and soon claimed a starting job.
You may know what happened from there. Foley was part of the famous “Electric Company,” the offensive line that “turned on the Juice.” He reached the Pro Bowl in 1973, a recognition of his role as Simpson ran for 2,003 yards – an NFL record. Foley stayed with the Bills through 1977, starting 79 of his 81 games in Buffalo.
His career on video:
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