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Who was the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick the year you were born?

By Barry Werner,

2023-04-25

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0T5thx_0aSgqoR900

NFL draft history

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3cBAhD_0aSgqoR900 David Boss-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright David Boss

The first pick in the NFL draft has grown in sports infamy over the years, a distinguished title that has been around since 1936. The No. 1 pick in that first draft never played in the NFL, which highlighted the times when playing professional football wasn't exactly lucrative. Who was the top pick the year you were born? Let's take a look...

1936 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2rtHN3_0aSgqoR900 Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles: Jay Berwanger | HB | University of Chicago.

1937 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0v0egg_0aSgqoR900 Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles: Sam Francis | FB | Nebraska.

1938 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=04ao3Y_0aSgqoR900 Getty

Cleveland Rams: Corbett Davis | FB | Indiana

1939 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3wb7qx_0aSgqoR900 New Yorker Hotel, site of 1939 NFL draft. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cardinals: Ki Aldrich | C | TCU

1940 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0VFJu1_0aSgqoR900 Chicago Cardinals owner Charles Bidwell. Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cardinals: George Cafego | HB | Tennessee

1941 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3qTpAq_0aSgqoR900 Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears: Tom Harmon | HB | Michigan

1942 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1zMjDJ_0aSgqoR900 Gary Newkirk/ALLSPORT

Pittsburgh Steelers: Bill Dudley | HB | Virginia

1943 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=49ZPsX_0aSgqoR900 Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions: Frankie Sinkwich | HB | Georgia

1944 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Z69oY_0aSgqoR900 Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Yanks: Angelo Bertelli | QB | Notre Dame

1945 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3LNqYD_0aSgqoR900 Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cardinals: Charley Trippi | HB | Georgia

1946 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2heAlc_0aSgqoR900 Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Yanks: Boley Dancewicz | QB | Notre Dame

1947 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1kx2h3_0aSgqoR900 Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears: Bob Fenimore | Halfback | Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State)

1948 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=44gfuu_0aSgqoR900 Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Redskins: Harry Gilmer | QB | Alabama

1949 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4WgiHZ_0aSgqoR900 David Boss-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles: Chuck Bednarik | LB | Pennsylvania

1950 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0VvHVJ_0aSgqoR900 David Boss-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions: Leon Hart | TE | Notre Dame

1951 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1oZQSD_0aSgqoR900 Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants: Kyle Rote | HB | SMU

1952 NFL Draft

David Boss-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Rams: Bill Wade | QB | Vanderbilt

1953 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2xys0g_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY

San Francisco 49ers: Harry Babcock | TE | Georgia

1954 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=40ghVY_0aSgqoR900 Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns: Bobby Garrett | QB | Stanford

1955 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=41xqbU_0aSgqoR900 David Boss-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Colts: George Shaw | QB | Oregon

1956 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1NdVH7_0aSgqoR900 Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers: Gary Glick | DB | Colorado State

1957 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0k32FP_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY

Green Bay Packers: Paul Hornung | HB | Notre Dame

1958 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0O0evi_0aSgqoR900 Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cardinals: King Hill | QB | Rice

1959 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1GfTBz_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY

Green Bay Packers: Randy Duncan | QB | Iowa

1960 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=07Ekuf_0aSgqoR900 David Boss-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Rams: Billy Cannon | HB/TE | LSU

1961 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=31EyBO_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings: Tommy Mason | HB | Tulane

1962 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1zg5Z7_0aSgqoR900 Jason Whong, Star-Gazette

Washington Redskins: Ernie Davis | HB | Syracuse

1963 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3hR0sr_0aSgqoR900 David Boss-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Rams: Terry Baker | QB | Oregon State

1964 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2OMIZA_0aSgqoR900 Abilene Reporter-News

San Francisco 49ers: Dave Parks | WR | Texas Tech

1965 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0AE4PX_0aSgqoR900 Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK

New York Giants: Tucker Frederickson | RB | Auburn

1966 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0pkapp_0aSgqoR900 Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons: Tommy Nobis | LB | Texas

1967 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2cj5Ix_0aSgqoR900 Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Colts: Bubba Smith | DE | Michigan State

1968 NFL Draft

Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings: Ron Yary | OT | USC

1969 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ySy9f_0aSgqoR900 Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills: O.J. Simpson | RB | USC

1970 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0GLizE_0aSgqoR900 Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK

Pittsburgh Steelers: Terry Bradshaw | QB | Louisiana Tech

1971 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1q0AHf_0aSgqoR900 Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots: Jim Plunkett | QB | Stanford

1972 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4CqlKm_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills: Walt Patulski | DE | Notre Dame

1973 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Hncil_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Oilers: John Matuszak | DE | Tampa

1974 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=10zERL_0aSgqoR900 Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys: Ed "Too Tall" Jones | DE | Tennessee State

1975 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1eSdyK_0aSgqoR900 Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons: Steve Bartkowski | QB | Cal

1976 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2BjTm6_0aSgqoR900 Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lee Roy Selmon | DE | Oklahoma

1977 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=48X6pm_0aSgqoR900 Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ricky Bell | RB | USC

1978 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0htLs5_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Oilers: Earl Campbell | RB | Texas

1979 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ZfhH8_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills: Tom Cousineau | LB | Ohio State

1980 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0m8PzN_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions: Billy Sims | RB | Oklahoma

1981 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TutEz_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints: George Rogers | RB | South Carolina

1982 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0KYjBY_0aSgqoR900 Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots: Kenneth Sims | DE | Texas

1983 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FiJUf_0aSgqoR900 Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Colts: John Elway | QB | Stanford

1984 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4d3grF_0aSgqoR900 Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots: Irving Fryar | WR | Nebraska

1985 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3c7OJn_0aSgqoR900 RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills: Bruce Smith | DE | Virginia Tech

1986 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0BnqCz_0aSgqoR900 Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bo Jackson | RB | Auburn

1987 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2JrM9M_0aSgqoR900 Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vinny Testaverde | QB | Miami (Fla.)

1988 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4BgxPF_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons: Aundray Bruce | LB | Auburn

1989 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Iv7Za_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys: Troy Aikman | QB | UCLA

1990 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TbkYV_0aSgqoR900 Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK

Indianapolis Colts: Jeff George | QB | Illinois

1991 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Bw4DH_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys: Russell Maryland | DT | Miami (Fla.)

1992 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2VLzYR_0aSgqoR900 Getty

Indianapolis Colts: Steve Emtman | DE | Washington

1993 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=08WdKs_0aSgqoR900 USAT

New England Patriots: Drew Bledsoe | QB | Washington State

1994 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0BJjqp_0aSgqoR900 Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals: Dan Wilkinson | DT | Ohio State

1995 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1JP6YJ_0aSgqoR900 Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati Bengals: Ki-Jana Carter | RB | Penn State

1996 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2r5oUN_0aSgqoR900 Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK

New York Jets: Keyshawn Johnson | WR | USC

1997 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=47VSeQ_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Rams: Orlando Pace | OT | Ohio State

1998 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4TC85V_0aSgqoR900 MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL

Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning | QB | Tennessee

1999 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1V5r4q_0aSgqoR900 RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Brown: Tim Couch | QB | Kentucky

2000 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3fvH9Y_0aSgqoR900 Photo By USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns: Courtney Brown | DE | Penn State

2001 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=45f8rC_0aSgqoR900 JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images

Atlanta Falcons: Michael Vick | QB | Virginia Tech

2002 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3yH0oT_0aSgqoR900 Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans: David Carr | QB | Fresno State

2003 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=11NVW6_0aSgqoR900 USA TODAY

Cincinnati Bengals: Carson Palmer | QB | USC

2004 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=33J1Yd_0aSgqoR900 Chris Trotman/Getty Images

San Diego Chargers: Eli Manning | QB | Ole Miss

2005 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2M36pH_0aSgqoR900 Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith | QB | Utah

2006 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4JRrDR_0aSgqoR900 Pouya Dianat-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans: Mario Williams | DE | North Carolina State

2007 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2yHWK5_0aSgqoR900 Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell | QB | LSU

2008 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1jOoBo_0aSgqoR900 Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins: Jake Long | OT | Michigan

2009 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3kHIu1_0aSgqoR900 Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford | QB | Georgia

2010 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3pG0lO_0aSgqoR900 Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford | QB | Oklahoma

2011 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3t1uxy_0aSgqoR900 Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton | QB | Auburn

2012 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2p7MzU_0aSgqoR900 Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck | QB | Stanford

2013 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0f0QhC_0aSgqoR900 Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Fisher | OT | Central Michigan

2014 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3LQKGj_0aSgqoR900 Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina

2015 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3oq7FQ_0aSgqoR900 Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston | QB | Florida State

2016 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3PRpJV_0aSgqoR900 Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff | QB | Cal

2017 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3u27QU_0aSgqoR900 Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett | DE | Texas A&M

2018 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Xbxkj_0aSgqoR900 Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma

2019 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0xm7S1_0aSgqoR900 Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray | QB | Oklahoma

2020 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4DIqdu_0aSgqoR900 Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

2021 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=400Wvh_0aSgqoR900 Photo by Logan Bowles/NFL via Getty Images

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence | QB | Clemson

2022 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Yma10_0aSgqoR900 Bob Self/Florida Times-Union

Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker | DE | Georgia

2023 NFL Draft

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2MA9uI_0aSgqoR900 Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young | QB | Alabama

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