The NFL's First Draft Pick Never Played A Single NFL Game
The Eagles took Jay Berwanger first in the 1936 draft. He never played in the league.
The first NFL draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia on February 8, 1936. The plan, credited to Eagles owner Bert Bell, gave the weaker teams the first choice of top college prospects.
The first pick
With the first pick, the Eagles selected Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago and the first Heisman Trophy winner. The Eagles traded his rights to the Bears. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Berwanger never played in the NFL.
Why he said no
Berwanger told Medill News Service he was not interested in pro football for about $100 a game. He recalled asking Bears owner George Halas for a two-year contract worth $25,000, and Halas turned him down. Berwanger used his business degree to found a rubber company in Downers Grove, Illinois, and later officiated the 1949 Rose Bowl.
Quick answers
- Who was the first pick in NFL draft history?
- Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago, taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1936.
- Did Jay Berwanger play in the NFL?
- No. The Eagles traded his rights to the Bears, and he never played in the NFL.
- Why was the NFL draft created?
- Bert Bell's plan let the weaker teams pick top college players first.
Sources
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL Draft History: 1936
- Medill News Service, Jay Berwanger, NFL's first draft pick, said no to league
If you think anything on this page is wrong, we want to know.
One football fact a day.
Sourced, short, and nothing to do with predictions.
Keep going
ORIGINFootball Officials Signaled Fouls With Horns. The NFL Threw Its First Penalty Flag In 1948
ORIGINNFL Sacks Were Not An Official Stat Until 1982. Deacon Jones Has None On The Record
ORIGINNFL Uprights Grew 5 Feet Taller In 2014 Because Of One Kick Over The Top
ORIGIN