In celebration of the NFL Draft, we've asked the members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to share some of their thoughts and recollections from when they were drafted. Follow a Hall of Famer as he takes a trip down memory lane, and relive draft history.
"I was just happy to be drafted," remarked the colorful Art Donovan to www.profootballhof.com. "Because after '49, there was only one league and we had to go where they said 'go'."
Donovan was selected in the third round of a special draft in 1950. The National Football League had just survived a battle against the rival All-America Football Conference. Three teams joined the NFL in 1950 including the Baltimore Colts who tapped Donovan out of Boston College.
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| Art Donovan |
The Colts folded following just one season in the NFL and Donovan, although he already had one pro season under his belt, was placed back into the annual draft and was eligible to be picked along with college seniors.
The Cleveland Browns used their fourth-round pick on Donovan but traded him away to the New York Yanks. Art played one year in New York before that franchise folded and he became the property of the Dallas Texans. Stability for the defensive tackle was still one year away because the Texans went defunct following the 1952 season. In 1953, Donovan joined the new Baltimore Colts where he found stardom.
Draft records of the day show that two other teams had also drafted Donovan. In 1947, the New York Giants took him in the 17th round of the NFL draft and the Buffalo Bills selected Art in the AAFC draft.
"It turned out pretty good," Art reflected about how the Colts won back-to-back world championships in 1958 and 1959.
In 1968, the five-time Pro Bowler became the first Colts' player and the first defensive lineman to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hall of Famers Taken in 1950 NFL Draft
Leo Nomellini, T, San Francisco 49ers - 1st round (11th overall)
Bud Grant, E, Philadelphia Eagles - 1st round (14th overall)
Ernie Stautner, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers - 2nd round (22nd overall)
Lou Creekmur, T, Detroit Lions - 2nd round of special draft. Originally drafted in 1948 by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 26th round (243rd overall)
