Build Up
The First Draft
The Draft enabled teams to pick and choose the players they wanted based on the order of picks they got. The first draft took place on February 8, 1936. This draft was held in place to even the playing field and to establish a fair and balanced system to recruit new talent. Bert Bell created the draft, it affected the entire league and the teams in it. The first draft took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. It lasted only one day while only having nine teams and nine rounds.
Players get chosen for many different abilities they possess. One player might be very strong but the next might be really fast. In the 1930’s, players were chosen based on hearsay, print media, or other rudimentary evidence of ability. Players in the draft of 1936 were all college players looking for an opportunity in football but many decided against it.
Jay Berwanger the first Heisman Trophy winner
The first combined NFL and AFL draft took place at the Hotel Gotham in New York City on March 14 and 15, 1967. Commissioner Pete Rozelle records the picks on a chalkboard
With the first draft pick, the Eagles selected Jay Berwanger. He was the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner. Jay was traded to the Bears later that night because, at the time, pro football was not a lucrative career. Most players opted for more secure jobs that paid better than playing football, which was not surprising. Pro football players were often making a lot less than other professions. Jay decided to be a foam rubber salesman instead of playing football for the Chicago Bears, where he would have a job that was way more reliable than being a football player.