Where Are They Now: Dave Foley

Dave Foley, an All-American offensive tackle at Ohio State, went from one winner to another, when after helping the Buckeyes win the 1968 national championship, he was drafted in the first round by the Jets, 16 days after they won Super Bowl III.

“Back in the day, the Draft wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t even on TV or anything, “Foley said. “I was in a fraternity house, and I got this call and they said, ‘Coach is on the phone.’ And I said, ‘Coach who?’ And so I pick up the phone and it’s Weeb Ewbank. He said, ‘Hey, we just drafted you with the New York Jets.’ I said, ‘That’s great. I’m really excited.’

“It was a big deal getting drafted, but it just wasn’t that public. But it was a cool experience. I wish I would have made it during the Super Bowl, but I was a year too late.”

But before Foley would play for the Jets, he had to play against the Jets.

Participating in the now defunct College All-Star Game in Chicago, where the collegians played against the defending Super Bowl champion, Foley’s introduction to the Jets was from looking through a facemask on the other side of the line of scrimmage.  

“Think about that,” Foley said. “You’re playing against them, and so everybody’s trying to whack each other one way or the other. So it wasn’t an easy introduction. And after the game was over, I got on the airplane and went back to New York with the Jets.

“I was a late arrival at their camp, and so I was already behind. I had played against them, which I don’t think that necessarily made that the most endearing way to introduce yourself. So it wasn’t an easy transition at the time just because of the circumstances.”

Granted, they had just fulfilled Joe Namath’s guarantee and upset the Baltimore Colts in the Super Bowl, but Foley felt that the Jets must have drafted him for a reason. And so he’d give it his best shot. It turned out he’d have to do so without the aid of his new veteran teammates.  

“It was a little…