Ricky Foley (born June 9, 1982) is a professional
Canadian football
Canadian football () is a sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's scoring area ( ...
defensive end
Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football.
This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations over the years have substantially changed how the position is p ...
who is currently a free agent, having most recently played for the
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
of the
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ...
(CFL). He was drafted by the Lions in the first round of the
2006 CFL Draft
The 2006 CFL Draft took place on Thursday, April 20, 2006. 50 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian Universities
Universities in Canada are established and operate under provincial and territorial government charters, ...
. He is a three-time
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
champion, having won in his rookie year in
2006 and also winning in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
and
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment ...
. Foley won the
CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually awarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Lew Hayman Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy winner ...
in
2009
File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
and also the
Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian award in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
. He played
CIS football
U Sports football is the highest level of amateur play of Canadian football and operates under the auspices of U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport). Twenty-seven teams from Canadian universities are divided into four athletic conf ...
for the
York Lions
The York Lions is the official name for the athletic varsity teams that represent York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports and, where applicable ...
.
Foley has also been a member of the
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays it ...
, the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 a ...
and the
New York Jets in the NFL, and a member of the
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...
and the
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division.
The Roughriders were founded i ...
in the CFL.
Early life
Foley was born in Courtice, Ontario Canada and was raised on a 200-acre farm near Toronto.
His father was a farmer and growing up his family didn't have a lot of money.
Foley and his family would have to fix things up for much of his youth.
After Foley's brother left when he was 14, he was expected to take over farm duties for the family but started to play football, at
Paul Dwyer High in
Oshawa
Oshawa ( , also ; 2021 population 175,383; CMA 415,311) is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario, approximately east of Downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of the ...
.
College career
Foley played in college for York University. In his senior year, Foley was a Second team CIS All Canadian and during his college career with the Lions, he was twice named to ALL OUA honours.
Professional career
BC Lions
Since joining the
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
in 2006, Foley had served as a situational pass rusher but with the departure of
Cam Wake
Derek Cameron Wake (born January 30, 1982) is a former American football defensive end and outside linebacker. He played college football for Penn State University, and was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005.
Wake ...
following the
2008 BC Lions season
The 2008 BC Lions season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 55th overall. The Lions finished the season in third place in the West Division with an 11–7 record and appeared in the West Final, losing to the ...
, Foley earned the starting defensive end position. In 2009, Foley had his first career start at defensive end and subsequently started all 18 games that season, registering 51 defensive tackles, 12 quarterback sacks, and four tackles for a loss. He also had a total of two sacks in the Lions' two playoff games. At the end of the season, Foley won the
CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually awarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Lew Hayman Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy winner ...
.
Seattle Seahawks
Foley signed with the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 a ...
on February 13, 2010. He was waived on August 30.
New York Jets
On August 31, 2010, the
New York Jets claimed Foley off waivers. Foley's tenure would be very brief as he was waived on September 3, 2010. Foley would be signed to the team's practice squad two days later
only to be released from the squad on September 7, 2010.
Toronto Argonauts
On September 14, 2010, Foley signed with the
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...
of the Canadian Football League.
His signing came amidst some controversy as the B.C. Lions had announced earlier in the day that they had agreed to terms with Foley.
Foley was also interviewed that same morning by Vancouver radio station the
Team 1040
CKST (1040 AM) is a radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Bell Media, it broadcasts comedy-oriented programming, including stand-up comedy routines.
CKST's studios are located on Robson and Burrard Street in Downtown Va ...
where he discussed his return to the Lions. "When I chose B.C., it was like that's the team that I've won a Cup with, winning Canadian Player of the Year, leading the league in sacks, with my boys out there and the staff. It's where I know I've had success, and I love the city out there. They support the Lions so much out there."
Lions head coach and general manager
Wally Buono
Pasquale "Wally" Buono (born February 7, 1950) is the vice president of football operations, alternate governor and the former head coach of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and one of the most successful head coaches in leag ...
later confirmed that Foley had changed his mind and signed with the Argonauts instead of the Lions. "He's done an about face. We think the pressures from the family had a lot to do with it. We're not going to stand in the way if this is what he wants and we'll move on."
On November 25, 2012, Foley played in the
100th Grey Cup
The 100th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game between the East Division champion Toronto Argonauts and the West Division champion Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League to decide the Grey Cup champions of the 2012 season.
The ga ...
for the Argonauts who went on to win the
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
championship. After the Grey Cup game, Foley was awarded the
Dick Suderman Trophy
The Dick Suderman Trophy (french: Trophée Dick Suderman) for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian (''Le Canadien le plus précieux de la Coupe Grey'') is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup ...
as its "Most Valuable Canadian" player.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Entering 2013 CFL Free Agency on February 15, 2013, Foley was one of the top free agents available to be signed. After being a free agent for ten days, Foley was signed by the
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division.
The Roughriders were founded i ...
on February 25, 2013. In his first season with the Roughriders Foley accumulated 45 tackles and 8 quarterback sacks: He also had a career high 4 fumble recoveries. To conclude the
2013 season the Riders won the
101st Grey Cup
The 101st Grey Cup was a Canadian football game played between the East Division champion Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the West Division champion Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League to decide the Grey Cup champions of the 2013 ...
giving Foley his third
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
in his career. Foley continued his strong play into the 2014 CFL season, tallying 54 tackles and 12 sacks. Foley was named the Saskatchewan Roughriders' Most Outstanding Canadian for the 2014 campaign. Following the season Foley signed a contract extension with the Roughriders. Ricky Foley was 32 years of age when he signed the contract extension.
Toronto Argonauts (II)
On January 24, 2015, Foley was traded back to the Argonauts for LB
Shea Emry
Shea Emry (born April 23, 1986 in Richmond, British Columbia) is a former Canadian football linebacker who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in the first round of the 2008 CFL ...
. In his 10th season in the CFL Foley played in 16 games collecting 48 tackles 6 quarterback sacks and 1 forced fumble. To avoid becoming a
free-agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
in February 2016, Foley agreed to take a pay cut and resigned with the Argos in December 2015. Foley played in 14 games for the Argos in 2016, contributing 24 tackles and 4 quarterback sacks. On March 31, 2017 the Argos released Ricky Foley, one day before he was set to earn a roster bonus on April 1. Prior to his release the Argos requested that Foley restructure his contract for the upcoming season, but failure to do so resulted in his dismissal.
BC Lions (II)
On August 6, 2017, Foley signed with the BC Lions for a second tenure, with his contract carrying through to the end of the
2017 CFL season
The 2017 CFL season was the 64th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 60th season of the Canadian Football League. The regular season began on June 22 and concluded on November 4. The playoffs commenced on November 12 an ...
. He was, however, released by the organization in March 2018 following an unproductive 2017 Season.
References
External links
BC Lions bioSaskatchewan Roughriders bioCFL bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Ricky
1982 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Clarington
Players of Canadian football from Ontario
Canadian football defensive linemen
American football defensive ends
American football linebackers
Canadian players of American football
York Lions football players
Baltimore Ravens players
BC Lions players
Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Canadian Award winners
Seattle Seahawks players
New York Jets players
Toronto Argonauts players