When the Denver Broncos used the fifth overall pick in 1972 on University of Houston tight end Riley Odoms, they tied a mark for the highest-drafted tight end in pro football history. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound target was far more than a high draft pick; he immediately stepped in as a foundational weapon for an offense searching for a true downfield threat.

Odoms quickly became one of the premier offensive weapons of the 1970s. In 1973, he led Denver in receptions and receiving yards, propelling the franchise to its first winning season in team history. He followed that with back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections in 1974 and 1975, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl nods as Craig Morton and Charley Johnson’s most reliable downfield target.

During an era dominated by tight ends who functioned primarily as extra offensive tackles, Odoms operated as a genuine seam buster. His career average of 14.5 yards per reception stands as one of the highest marks in league history among tight ends with at least 350 career catches. When the "Orange Crush" defense spearheaded Denver’s historic run to Super Bowl XII in 1977, Odoms served as the offense's clutch catalyst, catching a go-ahead 30-yard touchdown pass in the AFC Divisional Round against Pittsburgh.

He added a fourth Pro Bowl nod in 1978 and remained the bedrock of Denver’s aerial attack well into the early 1980s, bridging the gap from the franchise's early playoff breakthroughs to the dawn of the John Elway era. At the time of his retirement following the 1983 season, Odoms trailed only Pro Football Hall of Famers Mike Ditka and Jackie Smith in career receiving yards by a tight end.

He compiled 396 receptions, 5,755 receiving yards, and 41 receiving touchdowns and entered the team’s Ring of Fame in 2024.