Marcus Foligno was born August 10, 1991in Buffalo, New York, though because both his parents are Canadian, Marcus holds dual-citizenship. A standout in junior for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League, Foligno was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by his father's former team, the Buffalo Sabres.
Marcus made his professional debut in the American Hockey League foe the Rochester Americans during the 2011-12 season. In 60 games for the club, the big winger impressed with 16 goals and 23 assists. For his efforts he got his first taste of NHL action in 2011. In his second career game, against his brother, Nick and the Ottawa Senators, Marcus netted his first career goal at 14:06 in the third period. Buffalo would go on to win the game in a shootout.
With the NHL mired in a lockout to start the 2012-13 season, Foligno would begin the year in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans. In 33 games for the club he tallied 10 goals and 17 assists while continuing to play with an edge. When play resume at the NHL level Foligno would appear in all but one game for the Sabres, scoring five times.
During the 2015-16 season, Foligno would set new career-highs with 10 goals and 23 points. He would also match his career-best with 13 assists.
On June 24, 2017, Foligno's time in the Sabres organization would come to an end. He was traded to the Minnesota Wild along with Tyler Ennis in exchange for Marco Scandella, Jason Pominville.