Steve Foley (defensive back)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1953)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Steve Foley

| image = 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 47 - Randy Gradishar (Steve Foley crop).jpg

| caption = Foley playing for the Broncos in 1977 AFC Championship Game

| position = Safety / Cornerback

| number = 43

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|11|11}}

| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 189

| draftyear = 1975

| draftround = 8

| draftpick = 199

| high_school = Jesuit {{nowrap|(New Orleans)}}

| college = Tulane

| pastteams =

• Jacksonville Express (1975)
• Denver Broncos (1976–1986)

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 150

| statlabel2 = Interceptions

| statvalue2 = 44

| statlabel3 = INT yards

| statvalue3 = 622

| statlabel4 = Touchdowns

| statvalue4 = 1

| pfr = FoleSt20

| highlights =

• All-Pro (1978)
• Denver Broncos Ring of Fame

| HOF =

| CollegeHOF =

}}

Stephen James Foley (born November 11, 1953) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire 11-year NFL career (1976–1986) with the Denver Broncos after one year (1975) with the Jacksonville Express of the World Football League.

As a member of the Orange Crush Defense, Foley played in the Super Bowl twice. He was a starter in Super Bowl XII against the Dallas Cowboys and played in Super Bowl XXI (his final game) against the New York Giants. The Broncos lost both of these games.

Foley scored two touchdowns in his career, both of which came in 1984. He returned a fumble 22 yards on October 15 against the Green Bay Packers and an interception 40 yards on December 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. These scores were key contributions to Broncos' victories. {{As of|2017}}, his 44 career interceptions remains a franchise record.

Foley began his career as a quarterback, playing high school football at Jesuit High School of New Orleans and collegiately at [http://www.tulanegreenwave.com/ Tulane University], before successfully converting to defensive back.

Foley's daughter, Natalie, was a gymnast at Stanford University from 2003 to 2006.

Foley's grandson plays soccer for the club Real Colorado and scored a banger with his left foot at the USYS U13 National Championship game on July 21, 2023.