1971 NFL draft
The 1971 National Football League Draft was the 36th annual meeting in which National Football League (NFL) franchises selected newly eligible players, held over two days on January 28–29 at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City.[1][2] Comprising 17 rounds, the draft saw 442 players chosen by the league's 26 teams, with the Boston Patriots holding the first overall selection as the worst-performing team from the previous season.[3] Dubbed the "Year of the Quarterback," it marked the first time in NFL history that the top three picks were all quarterbacks: Jim Plunkett from Stanford (selected by the Patriots), Archie Manning from Mississippi (by the New Orleans Saints), and Dan Pastorini from Santa Clara (by the Houston Oilers).[1][4] Beyond the headline-grabbing quarterback selections, the first round featured other high-profile talents, including wide receiver J.D. Hill from Arizona State (fourth overall, Buffalo Bills), defensive end Richard Harris from Grambling State (fifth, Philadelphia Eagles), and running back John Brockington from Ohio State (ninth, Green Bay Packers).[3] Later rounds yielded several future Pro Football Hall of Famers, such as defensive end Jack Youngblood (20th overall, Los Angeles Rams), linebacker Jack Ham (34th, Pittsburgh Steelers), running back John Riggins (first round, sixth overall, New York Jets; signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent in 1976), offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf (43rd, St. Louis Cardinals), and wide receiver Harold Carmichael (seventh round, Eagles).[4][3] Plunkett, in particular, went on to win two Super Bowls (XV and XVIII) and earn Super Bowl XV MVP honors, while Manning became a beloved figure in Saints history despite the team's struggles.[1][5] The draft's quarterback emphasis reflected the league's need for signal-callers amid an era of evolving passing offenses, and its selections contributed to championship successes for teams like the Raiders, Steelers, and Eagles in the 1970s and 1980s.[5] Overall, the 1971 class is remembered for producing durable starters and Hall of Fame talent that influenced multiple franchises, even as early picks like Manning and Pastorini faced challenges in underperforming teams.[4][1]Background and Context
NFL-AFL Merger
The merger between the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) was formalized on June 8, 1966, through an agreement announced by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and AFL founder Lamar Hunt, marking the end of a costly bidding war for players that had escalated since the AFL's inception in 1960.[6] This pact, negotiated in secret sessions, aimed to unify professional football under a single structure while preserving competitive balance, with Rozelle assuming leadership over the combined entity and Hunt playing a pivotal role in bridging the rival leagues.[7] The agreement required congressional approval to exempt the merger from antitrust laws, which was granted via the Sports Broadcasting Act amendments signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on November 8, 1966, allowing the leagues to share television revenue and coordinate operations without legal challenges.[6][8] Implementation unfolded over several years, with the leagues maintaining separate schedules and identities through the 1969 season while transitioning toward full integration by 1970. A common player draft was introduced in 1967 to eliminate duplicate selections and reduce signing bonuses, which had reached $7 million combined in 1966, drawing from a unified college talent pool and ending the era of competitive bidding.[9] Expansion added the New Orleans Saints to the NFL in 1967 and the Cincinnati Bengals to the AFL in 1968, bringing the total to 26 teams by 1970, when the leagues officially merged for the upcoming season.[7] This culminated in a realignment into two conferences—the American Football Conference (AFC), comprising the 10 original AFL teams plus the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers, and the National Football Conference (NFC) with the remaining 13 NFL teams—each divided into three divisions of four or five teams to facilitate balanced scheduling and playoffs.[10] The merger profoundly impacted the draft process by resolving territorial disputes that had fueled the leagues' rivalry, such as overlapping markets in cities like New York and Los Angeles, through unified franchise protections and revenue sharing.[7] Draft eligibility rules standardized under the combined system, requiring players to complete four years of college or equivalent, while team allocations shifted to reflect conference alignments, ensuring equitable distribution of picks based on prior-season performance across the now-integrated league. By the 1971 draft, held as the first selection event for the fully merged 26-team NFL, these changes symbolized a new era of stability, exemplified by the Boston Patriots' selection of quarterback Jim Plunkett as the overall first pick.[9]Pre-Draft Expectations
The 1971 NFL Draft was widely anticipated as the "Year of the Quarterback," a moniker popularized by media outlets and scouting circles due to an unusually deep pool of signal-caller prospects.[5][1] Sport magazine captured this buzz on its October 1970 cover, featuring Stanford's Jim Plunkett alongside other top quarterbacks like Archie Manning of Ole Miss and Notre Dame's Joe Theismann, signaling expectations that multiple passers could dominate early selections.[5] Scouts forecasted that three to five quarterbacks might go in the first round alone, with Plunkett, the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner, viewed as a pro-ready talent for his poise and arm strength; Manning praised for his athleticism and mobility; and Santa Clara's Dan Pastorini noted for his powerful throwing and versatility, despite coming from a smaller program.[1][5] Scouting efforts emphasized traditional methods, as the draft lacked modern elements like the NFL Combine or widespread pro days, relying instead on game film, college all-star exhibitions such as the Senior Bowl, and limited in-person evaluations by a small cadre of team scouts.[5] Expert predictions from figures like Dallas Cowboys scout Gil Brandt highlighted the quarterbacks' potential while debating their rankings, with media narratives building excitement around which teams would address their passing games first.[1] Eligibility rules at the time restricted participation to college seniors or those at least four years removed from high school graduation, ensuring a pool focused on upperclassmen without notable controversies over early entrants.[11] Several teams entered the draft with acute needs at quarterback following disappointing 1970 seasons, exemplified by the Boston Patriots, who finished 2-12 and desperately sought a franchise leader to stabilize their offense.[5] General manager Upton Bell and coach John Mazur prioritized Plunkett in their evaluations, viewing him as the ideal fit to end years of instability at the position.[1] Similarly, the New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers scouted Manning and Pastorini aggressively, driven by regional ties and the need for dynamic playmakers amid ongoing roster overhauls. Beyond the quarterback focus, expectations extended to defensive standouts and offensive linemen as teams pursued balanced rebuilding efforts in the wake of the recent NFL-AFL merger, which unified the talent pool for the first time.[1] Penn State's Jack Ham, an All-American linebacker known for his speed and coverage skills, generated buzz among scouts as a potential second-round steal, with Philadelphia Eagles evaluators particularly impressed by his athleticism despite concerns over his size.[12][13] Offensive line prospects also drew attention for shoring up trenches in an era of physical play, reflecting league-wide anticipation of a draft that could accelerate post-merger transitions.[1]Draft Logistics
Date and Location
The 1971 NFL draft took place on January 28–29, 1971, spanning two days in a relatively low-profile manner compared to the multi-day extravaganzas of today.[3][1] The event was held at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City, a modest conference room setting that accommodated only league officials, team executives, and scouts, with no public attendance or television coverage—unlike the fan-filled spectacles now staged at venues like Radio City Music Hall.[5][14] This gathering marked a transitional moment following the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, expanding the draft's scale to include 26 teams while maintaining New York's role as the league's longstanding draft host since 1965.[9][15] Over the course of the proceedings, a total of 442 players were selected across 17 rounds, with representatives conducting business in person amid the quiet hotel environment.[16] The subdued atmosphere stood in contrast to the intense pre-draft buzz surrounding top quarterback prospects that year.[17]Format and Rules
The 1971 NFL Draft operated under the league's established guidelines for player selection, with the order of picks determined by the reverse finishing positions from the 1970 regular season standings to prioritize teams with the poorest records. Ties among teams with identical records were resolved by examining their performance in the prior season, providing a structured method to allocate early choices. The Boston Patriots earned the No. 1 overall selection as a result of their 2-12 record, the worst in the league that year.[18][19] The draft spanned 17 rounds across the 26 teams comprising the unified NFL following the AFL merger, yielding a total of 442 selections without any compensatory picks, which were not part of the format in that era.[20] This structure allowed each team up to 17 picks, subject to trades, emphasizing depth in talent acquisition from the college ranks. Eligibility criteria confined participation to college seniors and recent graduates who had fulfilled their amateur status by exhausting collegiate playing eligibility, ensuring players entered the professional level post-university. Trading was permitted throughout the process, including swaps involving future draft picks, though immediate exchanges were sometimes limited by the draft's procedural constraints, favoring pre-negotiated agreements over on-the-spot deals.[21] NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle supervised the event, coordinating announcements of picks relayed via phone from team representatives to the league office, a far cry from contemporary drafts with live broadcasts, real-time analysis, or standardized pre-draft evaluations like the NFL Combine, which did not exist until 1982.[1] The unified talent pool from the recent NFL-AFL merger facilitated equitable access to prospects for all franchises.[9]Player Selections
First Round
The first round of the 1971 NFL Draft, held on January 28-29 at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City, featured 26 selections across the league's 26 teams, marking the inaugural common draft following the AFL-NFL merger. It began with an unprecedented run on quarterbacks, as the top three picks addressed critical needs at the position for struggling franchises, reflecting the era's emphasis on signal-callers as franchise cornerstones. Overall, the round included 16 offensive players and 10 defensive players, with running backs dominating the offensive selections (eight total) amid teams' priorities to bolster ground games in a run-heavy league. Rookie contracts for top picks averaged around $300,000 to $450,000 over multi-year deals, setting benchmarks for the era's compensation structure.[3][16][1][17]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New England Patriots | Jim Plunkett | QB | Stanford |
| 2 | New Orleans Saints | Archie Manning | QB | Mississippi |
| 3 | Houston Oilers | Dan Pastorini | QB | Santa Clara |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills | J.D. Hill | WR | Arizona State |
| 5 | Philadelphia Eagles | Richard Harris | DE | Grambling |
| 6 | New York Jets | John Riggins | RB | Kansas |
| 7 | Atlanta Falcons | Joe Profit | RB | Northeast Louisiana |
| 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Frank Lewis | WR | Grambling |
| 9 | Green Bay Packers | John Brockington | RB | Ohio State |
| 10 | Los Angeles Rams | Isiah Robertson | LB | Southern |
| 11 | Chicago Bears | Joe Moore | RB | Missouri |
| 12 | Denver Broncos | Marv Montgomery | OT | USC |
| 13 | San Diego Chargers | Leon Burns | RB | Long Beach State |
| 14 | Cleveland Browns | Clarence Scott | DB | Kansas State |
| 15 | Cincinnati Bengals | Vern Holland | OT | Tennessee State |
| 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | Elmo Wright | WR | Houston |
| 17 | St. Louis Cardinals | Norm Thompson | DB | Utah |
| 18 | New York Giants | Rocky Thompson | RB | West Texas A&M |
| 19 | Oakland Raiders | Jack Tatum | DB | Ohio State |
| 20 | Los Angeles Rams | Jack Youngblood | DE | Florida |
| 21 | Detroit Lions | Bob Bell | DT | Cincinnati |
| 22 | Baltimore Colts | Don McCauley | RB | North Carolina |
| 23 | San Francisco 49ers | Tim Anderson | DB | Ohio State |
| 24 | Minnesota Vikings | Leo Hayden | RB | Ohio State |
| 25 | Dallas Cowboys | Tody Smith | DE | USC |
| 26 | Baltimore Colts | Lenny Dunlap | DB | North Texas |
Subsequent Rounds
The subsequent rounds of the 1971 NFL Draft, spanning rounds 2 through 17, produced 416 selections as teams addressed roster needs in the newly merged 26-team league, emphasizing depth across positions to support the expanded rosters.[3] In rounds 2-8, selections included a focus on bolstering defensive units, reflecting teams' priorities for trench warfare and secondary coverage amid competitive balance post-merger.[3] Mid-round highlights included linebacker Jack Ham (round 2, pick 34, Penn State, Pittsburgh Steelers) and defensive end Dwight White (round 4, pick 104, North Texas State), both drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and key members of their Steel Curtain defense that anchored four Super Bowl victories, and offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf (round 2, pick 43, Michigan, St. Louis Cardinals), a future Hall of Famer known for his blocking prowess.[4][25] Wide receiver Harold Carmichael (round 7, pick 161, Southern, Philadelphia Eagles) emerged as a seventh-round gem, amassing over 8,900 receiving yards in a prolific career.[3] Rounds 9-17 focused on late-round depth, where teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers (13 selections overall, the most in the draft) and San Francisco 49ers (10 selections) made multiple picks to stock practice squads and special teams, while the Washington Redskins had the fewest at 3, prioritizing trades for veterans.[3] This phase saw continued emphasis on linemen and defensive backs to fill expanded benches, with overall picks enabling teams to build sustainable rosters in the merger era, transitioning from the first round's quarterback-heavy focus to broader positional reinforcement without which the league's parity might have suffered.[1]Draft Trades
During the 1971 NFL Draft, trades involving draft picks were uncommon, a reflection of the era's limited scouting infrastructure, which typically involved only a handful of personnel per team—often former players without advanced analytics or centralized combines to facilitate rapid evaluations and negotiations.[26][27] This contrasted sharply with modern drafts, where sophisticated data and real-time communication enable frequent pick swaps; in the early 1970s, exchanges were sporadic and usually tied to acquiring veterans for immediate roster needs following the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.[28] The most significant transaction occurred on draft day, January 28, 1971, as new Washington Redskins head coach George Allen aggressively rebuilt the team by trading with the Los Angeles Rams. The Redskins sent linebacker Marlin McKeever, their 1971 first-round pick (No. 10 overall, used by the Rams to select linebacker Isiah Robertson), third-round pick (No. 63 overall, safety Dave Elmendorf), and fifth-round pick (No. 124 overall, linebacker Jim Stillwagon), along with additional future selections, to the Rams in exchange for a cadre of experienced defenders and linemen: linebackers Maxie Baughan, Jack Pardee, and Myron Pottios; defensive tackle Diron Talbert; and offensive linemen John Wilbur and Jeff Jordan.[21][29] This deal, executed between rounds, immediately fortified Washington's defense with proven talent, allowing Allen to prioritize short-term competitiveness over long-term draft accumulation in the merger's inaugural common draft.[30] Smaller deals also influenced mid-round selections, such as the agreement between the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles in which the Lions traded quarterback Greg Barton to the Eagles for the Eagles' 1971 second-round pick (No. 30 overall, used by the Lions to select Dave Thompson), along with future picks. A separate trade on October 6, 1970, saw the Lions send running back Larry Watkins to the Eagles. These limited exchanges highlighted the draft's mechanics, which permitted trades at any point but rarely saw blockbuster pick-for-pick maneuvers due to the value teams placed on retaining selections amid uncertain talent evaluation.[21][28]Notable Players
Hall of Fame Inductees
The 1971 NFL Draft yielded five players who earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, demonstrating the class's remarkable talent across positions and rounds. These inductees include running back John Riggins, defensive end Jack Youngblood, linebacker Jack Ham, offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf, and wide receiver Harold Carmichael, selected from the first through seventh rounds. Their careers highlight how draft position did not always predict success, with late-round picks like Carmichael proving that overlooked talent could achieve elite status through perseverance and opportunity. As of 2025, no additional players from this draft class have been inducted.[31] John Riggins, selected sixth overall in the first round by the New York Jets out of the University of Kansas, made an immediate impact as a powerful runner, amassing 3,880 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns over his first five seasons (1971-1975) with the Jets, including a career-high 1,005 yards in 1975. After joining the Washington Redskins as a free agent in 1976, he became a cornerstone of their offense, rushing for 7,472 yards and 79 touchdowns across nine seasons, culminating in Super Bowl XVII MVP honors in 1983 with 166 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. Riggins was inducted in 1992 for his 11,352 career rushing yards, 104 rushing touchdowns, and postseason prowess (996 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games).[31][32] Jack Youngblood, taken 20th overall in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams from the University of Florida, transitioned quickly from a rookie backup in 1971 to a starting defensive end by 1973, anchoring the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" revamp after the trade of Deacon Jones. His initial contributions included sharing duties in 1972 and emerging as a sack leader, playing in 201 consecutive games over 14 seasons (1971-1984) despite injuries like a fractured fibula in Super Bowl XIV. Youngblood earned five All-Pro selections (1974-1976, 1978-1979), seven Pro Bowls, and seven All-NFC honors, leading to his 2001 induction for his relentless pass rush and defensive dominance.[31][33] Linebacker Jack Ham, drafted 34th overall in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers from Penn State, secured a starting role as a rookie in 1971 after a preseason interception spree, including three against the New York Giants, and started all 14 games while contributing to the Steelers' defensive foundation. Over 12 seasons (1971-1982), he became a tackling machine and coverage specialist, earning six straight All-Pro nods (1974-1979) and eight Pro Bowls. Ham's induction in 1988 recognized his role as a defensive anchor in four Super Bowl victories and his franchise-record 21 interceptions as a linebacker.[31][34] Dan Dierdorf, chosen 43rd overall in the second round by the St. Louis Cardinals from the University of Michigan, rotated between guard and tackle in his first two seasons (1971-1972) before locking in at right tackle in 1973, helping the Cardinals' line surrender the fewest NFC sacks for five years running, including a league-low eight in 1975. His 13-year career (1971-1983) featured five All-Pro selections (1975-1978, 1980), six Pro Bowls, and a spot on the 1970s All-Decade Team, earning him 1996 induction for his versatility, durability, and protection of quarterbacks like Jim Hart.[31][35] Harold Carmichael, a seventh-round steal at 161st overall by the Philadelphia Eagles from Southern University, gradually rose from a reserve in 1971-1972 to NFL reception leader in 1973 with 67 catches for 1,116 yards, setting an Eagles single-season record at the time. Over 14 seasons (1971-1984, primarily with Philadelphia), he tallied 590 receptions for 8,978 yards and 79 touchdowns, earning four Pro Bowls and a 1970s All-Decade Team nod despite playing in a run-heavy era. Carmichael's 2020 induction as part of the Centennial Class celebrated his consistency as a big-play target and late-round breakthrough.[31][36]Undrafted Players
In the 1971 NFL draft era, following the conclusion of the 17-round selection process, teams were permitted to sign undrafted college players as free agents to bolster their rosters, particularly amid the league's expansion to 26 teams after the AFL-NFL merger. This free agency window allowed for opportunistic pickups of overlooked talent, often from smaller schools or players who slipped through draft evaluations, providing immediate depth for training camps and the regular season.[4] One of the most prominent undrafted free agents from the 1971 draft class was safety Glen Edwards, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Florida A&M University. Edwards quickly earned a starting role, forming a formidable safety tandem with Mike Wagner and contributing to the Steelers' Steel Curtain defense during their rise in the 1970s; he recorded 34 interceptions over his career, including 19 with Pittsburgh from 1971 to 1977, and was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.[37][38] Guard Jim Clack, another Steelers signee after going undrafted from Wake Forest University, provided reliable interior line play for seven seasons in Pittsburgh (1971-1977) before finishing his career with the New York Giants. Clack appeared in 146 games, starting 58, and was instrumental in protecting the Steelers' quarterback during their early dynasty years, earning a spot on two Super Bowl rosters.[39][40] Defensive tackle Mike Lewis, signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent from Arkansas-Pine Bluff (after starting at Wiley College), became a cornerstone of the Falcons' defensive line for nine seasons (1971-1979). Lewis played in 130 games, amassing 25 sacks—including a career-high eight in 1975—and helped anchor the front four during a period of defensive rebuilding for the franchise.[41][42] These examples underscore the value of undrafted signings in 1971, where such players often filled critical gaps on expanded rosters, though stars like Edwards were exceptions amid a draft class dominated by high-profile selections.[43]| Player | Position | College | Original Team | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Edwards | S | Florida A&M | Pittsburgh Steelers | 34 career INTs; 2 Super Bowls (IX, X) |
| Jim Clack | G | Wake Forest | Pittsburgh Steelers | 146 games played; 2 Super Bowls (IX, X) |
| Mike Lewis | DT | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Atlanta Falcons | 25.0 career sacks; 130 games played |