Foote was selected 22nd overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He played for Quebec for four seasons until the franchise moved to Colorado (and became the Colorado Avalanche), where he played for nine seasons. He has won two Stanley Cups (1996, 2001) and a gold medal for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics. A physical presence, he is known for his gritty, sometimes dirty (though never intentionally injurious) play, and has occasionally been assigned to "shadow" opposing teams' premiere forwards.

 

On August 1, 2005, Foote signed a 3-year contract worth $13.5 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets and was immediately named an alternate captain. He became the Blue Jackets' captain in December of that year (Luke Richardson resigned the captaincy).

 

Foote was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2006 Olympics.