NFL Draft Memories: 1942 - 1988


 

"With the next selection in the NFL draft..."

Art Donovan

Art Donovan

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. Take a trip down memory lane with a few Hall of Famers as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Draft History coverage.

Members of the Hall of Fame have had a wide variety of draft memories. Some experiences were products of their times: putting their faith in an obscure, struggling new NFL in the 1930's, choosing between football and the war in the 1940's, getting caught in the rivalry between the NFL and AFL in the 1960's. Other memories are unique and timeless, bringing equal measures of excitement, nervousness, and joy to the players who lived them.

Whether they were drafted in the first round, or the 20th, each of these young players had something common. They were about to embark on careers marked by greatness, enough greatness to make them members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.


Bill Dudley Bill Dudley

Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott

Select the Hall of Famer below to read his personal Draft Memory

Bill Dudley 1942 "Looking for a Little Bit of Money..."
Charley Trippi 1945 "Bargaining power"
Pete Pihos 1945 "Which draft?"
Dante Lavelli 1946 "You know anyone who can play?"
Chuck Bednarik 1949 "First man picked!"
Art Donovan 1950 "Drafted, again, again, and again!"
Hugh McElhenny 1952 "Oil or football?"
Yale Lary 1952 "More paperwork."
Bob St. Clair 1953 "First Holdout?"
Raymond Berry 1954 "Hey, Look What's in the Newspaper!"
Bobby Mitchell 1958 "What bonus?"
Jackie Smith 1963 "Someone made a mistake"
John Mackey 1963 "Why didn't you draft me?"
Dave Wilcox 1964 "Surprise!"
Lem Barney 1967 "Hi Mom!"
Jack Youngblood 1971 "Who's the Rams' Coach?"
Ronnie Lott 1981 "Just Kidding!"
Marv Levy 1988 "Twist of Fate and a Super Bowl Player"