1949 NFL draft


The 1949 NFL draft was held on December 21, 1948, at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. The draft was preceded by a secret draft meeting held November 15, 1948, at the Hotel Schenley in Pittsburgh.
This was the third year that the List of first overall [National Football League Draft picks|first overall pick] was a bonus pick determined by lottery, with the previous two winners ineligible from the draw; it was won by the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected center/linebacker Chuck Bednarik.

Player selections

Round 1

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
11949 [Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles] Chuck BednarikCenterPenn Quakers football team|Penn]
2Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]John RauchQuarterbackGeorgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]
3New York Bulldogs season|New York Bulldogs]Doak WalkerHalfbackSMU Mustangs football team|SMU]
4New York Giants season|New York Giants]Paul PageHalfbackSMU
5Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]Stan HeathQuarterbackNevada Wolf Pack football team|Nevada]
6Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]Bobby GageBackClemson Tigers football team|Clemson]
7Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]Bobby ThomasonQuarterbackVMI Keydets football team|VMI]
81949 [Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]Rob GoodeBackTexas A&M Aggies football team|Texas A&M]
9Philadelphia EaglesFrank TripuckaQuarterbackNotre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]
10Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]Bill FischerGuardNotre Dame
111949 [Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]Dick HarrisCenterTexas

Round 2

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
12Detroit LionsJohn PanelliBackNotre Dame
13New York BulldogsBob DeMossBackPurdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue]
14New York GiantsAl DeRogatisTackleDuke Blue Devils football team|Duke]
15Green Bay PackersDan DworskyCenterMichigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]
16Pittsburgh SteelersHarper DavisBackMississippi State Maroons football team|Mississippi State]
17Los Angeles RamsGeorge SimsBackBaylor Bears football team|Baylor]
18Washington RedskinsLaurie NiemiTackleWashington State Cougars football team|Washington State]
19Philadelphia EaglesFrank BurnsBackRutgers Queensmen football team|Rutgers]
20Chicago BearsBilly GrimesBackOklahoma A&M Cowboys football team|Oklahoma A&M]
21Chicago CardinalsDick McKissackBackSMU

Round 3

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
22Detroit LionsLou KusserowBackColumbia Lions football team|Columbia]
23New York BulldogsPhil ColellaBackSt. Bonaventure
24New York GiantsBill OlsonBackColumbia
25Green Bay PackersLou FerryTackleVillanova Wildcats football team|Villanova]
26Pittsburgh SteelersBill WalshCenterNotre Dame
27Los Angeles RamsJim WinklerTackleTexas A&M
28Washington RedskinsLen SzafarynTackleNorth Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina]
29Philadelphia EaglesFrank ZieglerBackGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]
30New York BulldogsLynn ChewningBackHampden–Sydney
31Chicago BearsRed O'QuinnEnd1948 [Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team|Wake Forest]

Round 4

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
32Detroit LionsJoe SullivanBackDartmouth Indians football team|Dartmouth]
33New York BulldogsHuey KeeneyBackRice Owls football team|Rice]
34Green Bay PackersBob SummerhaysBackUtah Redskins football team|Utah]
35New York GiantsBill KayTackleIowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]
36Pittsburgh SteelersJoe GeriBackGeorgia
37Los Angeles RamsNorm Van BrocklinQuarterbackOregon Ducks football team|Oregon]
38Washington RedskinsMike DeNoiaBackScranton
39Chicago BearsBen BendrickBackWisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]
40Chicago CardinalsJohn GoldsberryTackleIndiana Hoosiers football team|Indiana]
41Philadelphia EaglesDon PancieraBackSan Francisco Dons football team|San Francisco]

Round 5

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
42Detroit LionsGeorge BrodnaxEndGeorgia Tech
43Green Bay PackersGlenn LewisBackTexas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]
44New York BulldogsMike BoydaBack1948 [Washington and Lee Generals football team|Washington & Lee]
45Pittsburgh SteelersBill LongEndOklahoma A&M
46New York GiantsJ. D. CheekGuardOklahoma A&M
47Los Angeles RamsDixie HowellBackOle Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss]
48Washington RedskinsEddie BerrangEndVillanova
49Chicago BearsJohn HoffmanBackArkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas]
50Chicago CardinalsTom WhamEndFurman
51Philadelphia EaglesTerry BrennanBackNotre Dame

Round 6

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
52Detroit LionsBob MeinertBackOklahoma A&M
53New York BulldogsAlbin CollinsBackLSU Tigers football team|LSU]
54Green Bay PackersJoe EthridgeTackleSMU
55New York GiantsAbe GibronGuardPurdue
56Pittsburgh SteelersDoug BrightwellCenterTCU Horned Frogs football team|TCU]
57Los Angeles RamsCharles ReynoldsBackTexas Tech
58Philadelphia EaglesWarren HueyEndMichigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]
59Chicago BearsJerry KrallBackOhio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]
60Chicago CardinalsBernie HanulaTackleWake Forest Demon Deacons football team|Wake Forest]
61New York BulldogsSam TamburoEnd1948 [Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]

Round 7

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
62Chicago CardinalsMyrl GreathouseBackOklahoma
63Los Angeles RamsJerry WilliamsBackWashington State
64New York BulldogsPete WismannCenterSt. Louis
65Pittsburgh SteelersBill TalaricoBackPenn
66New York GiantsFrank LoVuoloEndSt. Bonaventure
67Los Angeles RamsJon BakerGuardCalifornia Golden Bears football team|California]
68Washington RedskinsChet FritzGuardMissouri Tigers football team|Missouri]
69Chicago BearsWallace JonesEndKentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]
70Chicago CardinalsJim CainEndAlabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]
71Philadelphia EaglesFrank GillespieGuardClemson

Round 8

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
72Chicago BearsBones WeatherlyCenterRice
73New York BulldogsMike RubishEndNorth Carolina
74Green Bay PackersDan OrlichEndNevada
75New York GiantsJohn SalscheiderBackSt. Thomas (MN)
76Pittsburgh SteelersGeorge BrownGuardTCU
77Los Angeles RamsJohn WaldrumGuardSul Ross Lobos football team|Sul Ross]
78Washington RedskinsBob KennedyBackNorth Carolina
79Chicago BearsBill WightkinEndNotre Dame
80Chicago CardinalsJoe E. BrownBackGeorgia Tech
81Philadelphia EaglesBob DeanBackCornell Big Red football team|Cornell]

Round 9

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
82Detroit LionsChuck DrazenovichBackPenn State
83Green Bay PackersEv FaunceBackMinnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]
84New York BulldogsBernie CraigTackleDenver Pioneers football team|Denver]
85Pittsburgh SteelersTom BrennanTackleBoston College Eagles football team|Boston College]
86New York GiantsJoe SoboleskiGuardMichigan
87Los Angeles RamsJohnny SmithEndArizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]
88Washington RedskinsEd McNeilEndMichigan
89Chicago BearsDolph TokarczykGuardPenn
90Chicago CardinalsHal HerringCenterAuburn Tigers football team|Auburn]
91Philadelphia EaglesJonathan JenkinsTackleDartmouth

Round 10

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
92Detroit LionsBill DavisGuardDuke
93New York BulldogsJohn GearyTackleWesleyan
94Los Angeles RamsGeorge BuksarBackPurdue
95New York GiantsGene RossidesBackColumbia
96Pittsburgh SteelersBob HoodEndAlabama
97Los Angeles RamsMax MinnichBackBowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]
98Washington RedskinsVic VasicekGuardTexas
99Chicago BearsLee NalleyBackVanderbilt Commodores football team|Vanderbilt]
100Chicago CardinalsBob HeckerBackBaldwin Wallace
101Philadelphia EaglesRoy LesterEndWest Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]

Round 11

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
102Detroit LionsErnie SettembreTackleMiami (FL)
103Green Bay PackersHarry LarcheTackleArkansas State
104New York BulldogsEdo MencottiBackDetroit
105Pittsburgh SteelersAl SandersCenterMississippi Southern Southerners football team|Mississippi Southern]
106New York GiantsDick HensleyEndKentucky
107Los Angeles RamsJim CozadTackleIowa
108Washington RedskinsHomer HobbsGuardGeorgia
109Chicago BearsJerry TiblierBackOle Miss
110Chicago CardinalsStan FlowersEndRedlands
111Philadelphia EaglesBobby WilsonBackOle Miss

Round 12

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
112Detroit LionsVirgil BotelerCenterNew Mexico Lobos football team|New Mexico]
113New York BulldogsMornane MaenhoutEndSt. John's (MN)
114Green Bay PackersRebel Roy SteinerEndAlabama
115New York GiantsGeorge SundheimBackNorthwestern Wildcats football team|Northwestern]
116Pittsburgh SteelersJim FinksQuarterbackTulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa]
117Los Angeles RamsBill RennaCenterSanta Clara Broncos football team|Santa Clara]
118Washington RedskinsHarry VarnerTackleArizona
119Chicago BearsGeorge BlandaQuarterbackKentucky
120Chicago CardinalsBilly StoneBackBradley
121Philadelphia EaglesDale ArmstrongEndDartmouth

Round 13

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
122Detroit LionsAl RussasEndTennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]
123Green Bay PackersAl MastrangeliCenterIllinois Fighting Illini football team|Illinois]
124New York BulldogsJim DieckelmanEndHoly Cross Crusaders football team|Holy Cross]
125Pittsburgh SteelersR. R. WalstonGuard1948 [North Texas State Teachers Eagles football team|North Texas State Teachers]
126New York GiantsBill AustinTackleOregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State]
127Los Angeles RamsPaul BarryBackTulsa
128Washington RedskinsEd HenkeTackleUSC Trojans football team|USC]
129Chicago BearsGeorge TaliaferroBackIndiana
130Chicago CardinalsBob ToddTackleLouisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]
131Philadelphia EaglesLyle ButtonTackleIllinois

Round 14

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
132Detroit LionsDale PanterTackleUtah State Aggies football team|Utah State]
133New York BulldogsEd ToscaniBackDayton Flyers football team|Dayton]
134Green Bay PackersBobby WilliamsCenterTexas Tech
135New York GiantsNorb AdamsBackPurdue
136Pittsburgh SteelersDave MoonBackSMU
137Los Angeles RamsEd CarmichaelTackleOregon State
138Washington RedskinsPat HaggertyEndWilliam & Mary
139Chicago BearsErnie KellyGuardTexas Mines Miners football team|Texas Mines]
140Chicago CardinalsTony KlimekEndIllinois
141Philadelphia EaglesBobby LundBackTennessee

Round 15

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
142Detroit LionsBob PifferiniCenter1948 [San Jose State Spartans football team|San Jose State]
143Green Bay PackersKen CooperGuardVanderbilt
144New York BulldogsGeorge RamacortiGuardBoston University Terriers football team|Boston University]
145Pittsburgh SteelersEd SobczakEndMichigan
146New York GiantsRalph PickelsimerCenterOtterbein
147Los Angeles RamsJ. C. DoddBackSul Ross
148Washington RedskinsGene FrassettoTackleCalifornia
149Chicago BearsHal FavertyGuardWisconsin
150Chicago CardinalsBob McQuadeBackXavier
151Philadelphia EaglesCarl CoppTackleVanderbilt

Round 16

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
152Detroit LionsKimball MerrillTackleBYU Cougars football team|BYU]
153New York BulldogsJack BruceBackWilliam & Mary
154Green Bay PackersGene RemenarTackleVirginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]
155New York GiantsJerry MorricalTackleIndiana
156Pittsburgh SteelersDenvard SnellTackleAuburn
157Los Angeles RamsJoe MorganGuardMississippi Southern
158Washington RedskinsDick FlowersTackleAlabama
159Chicago BearsAl WahlTackleMichigan
160Chicago CardinalsTom MurdockBackAppalachian State Mountaineers football team|Appalachian State]
161Philadelphia EaglesFrank RenoEndWest Virginia

Round 17

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
162Detroit LionsZealand ThigpenBackVanderbilt
163Green Bay PackersPaul DevineBackHeidelberg
164New York BulldogsWarren BesonCenterMinnesota
165Pittsburgh SteelersVeto KissellBackHoly Cross
166New York GiantsWally TeningaBackMichigan
167Los Angeles RamsDick SheffieldEndTulane Green Wave football team|Tulane]
168Washington RedskinsRoss PritchardBackArkansas
169Chicago BearsJohn CorbisieroBackMiddlebury
170Chicago CardinalsEddie RuppBackDenison
171Philadelphia EaglesLeo SkladanyEndPittsburgh

Round 18

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
172Detroit LionsBill WehrCenterDenison
173New York BulldogsAlbie GouldEndBoston College
174Green Bay PackersFloyd LewisGuardSMU
175New York GiantsDick NuttBackNorth Texas State Teachers
176Pittsburgh SteelersClint ShipmanTackleEast Texas State
177Los Angeles RamsHillary CholletBackCornell
178Washington RedskinsHerb SiegertGuardIllinois
179Chicago BearsJim MoranBack1948 [John Carroll Blue Streaks football team|John Carroll]
180Chicago CardinalsWebb HalbertBackIowa
181Philadelphia EaglesRuss StraitBackMuhlenberg

Round 19

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
182Detroit LionsWallace TriplettBackPenn State
183Green Bay PackersRobert FolsomEndSMU
184New York BulldogsBob ReichTackleColgate Red Raiders football team|Colgate]
185Pittsburgh SteelersJack McBrideEndRice
186New York GiantsKen McCallBackGeorgia
187Los Angeles RamsJoe LeonardTackleVirginia
188Washington RedskinsBob HainlenBackColorado A&M
189Chicago BearsRobert MittenGuardNorth Carolina
190Chicago CardinalsDean LaunEndIowa State Cyclones football team|Iowa State]
191Philadelphia EaglesPaul OdomGuardRollins

Round 20

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
192Detroit LionsJoe RomanoTackleNorth Carolina
193New York BulldogsFrank GaulTackleNotre Dame
194Green Bay PackersLarry CooneyBackPenn State
195New York GiantsPat O'SullivanCenterAlabama
196Pittsburgh SteelersBen MannGuardOle Miss
197Los Angeles RamsLloyd EisenbergTackleDuke
198Washington RedskinsOliver FletcherEndUSC
199Chicago BearsBob HeckBackPacific Tigers football team|Pacific]
200Chicago CardinalsEarl RowanTackleHardin–Simmons Cowboys football team|Hardin–Simmons]
201Philadelphia EaglesLloyd BrinkmanBackMissouri

Round 21

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
202Detroit LionsJack LiningerCenterOhio State
203Green Bay PackersKen KranzBackUW–Milwaukee
204New York BulldogsSammy PierceBackBaylor
205Pittsburgh SteelersJoe JackuraCenterGeorgia
206New York GiantsA. D. CateGuardNorth Texas State Teachers
207Los Angeles RamsGeorge TeufelBackLock Haven
208Washington RedskinsTommy HughesBackDuke
209Chicago BearsJim DuncanEndDuke
210Chicago CardinalsLeon JoslinBackTCU
211Philadelphia EaglesLou FutrellBackUSC

Round 22

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
212Detroit LionsGil ToblerBackUtah
213New York BulldogsJim LailBackWake Forest
214Green Bay PackersJay KordichBackUSC
215New York GiantsTom FetzerBackWake Forest
216Pittsburgh SteelersLloyd JohnsonBackWest Texas State Buffaloes football team|West Texas State]
217Los Angeles RamsEd HamiltonEndArkansas
218Washington RedskinsBill ClementsEndUCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]
219Chicago BearsDick BertuzziBackKansas Jayhawks football team|Kansas]
220Chicago CardinalsBill SprangCenterPurdue
221Philadelphia EaglesHarvey KingryBackColorado Mines

Round 24

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
232Detroit LionsOswald ClarkEndMichigan
233New York BulldogsJoe PonsalleTackleTrinity (CT)
234Green Bay PackersJimmy FordBackTulsa
235New York GiantsDon McAuliffeBackNotre Dame
236Pittsburgh SteelersIvan SnowdenTackleTexas A&I
237Los Angeles RamsFred KlemenokBackSan Francisco
238Washington RedskinsJim CullomGuardCalifornia
239Chicago BearsBernie SmithTackleTexas Mines
240Chicago CardinalsStan SzymakowskiBackLehigh Engineers football team|Lehigh]
241Philadelphia EaglesFred LeonTackleNevada

Round 25

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
242Detroit LionsLes CowanEndMcMurry
243Green Bay PackersFrank LambrightGuardArkansas
244New York BulldogsPaul GirolamoBackCornell
245Pittsburgh SteelersBobby GaffBackTexas A&M
246New York GiantsGene DegyanskiEndBaldwin Wallace
247Los Angeles RamsClay MatthewsTackleGeorgia Tech
248Washington RedskinsNick SebekBackIndiana
249Chicago BearsStan MarczykTackleNorth Carolina
250New York GiantsRalph DoranBackIowa
251Philadelphia EaglesJohn SchwederGuardPenn

Hall of Famers

  • Chuck Bednarik, center from the University of Pennsylvania taken 1st round 1st overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • Norm Van Brocklin, quarterback from the University of Oregon taken 4th round 37th overall by the Los Angeles Rams.
  • George Blanda, quarterback from the University of Kentucky taken 12th round 119th overall by the Chicago Bears.
  • Doak Walker, halfback from Southern Methodist University taken 1st round 3rd overall by the Boston Yanks.
  • Jim Finks, quarterback from Tulsa taken 12th round 116th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Although not an inductee, Wallace Triplett's photograph hangs in the Hall of Fame in recognition of his being the first African-American to be drafted by and play for a National Football League team.