The list of No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft is filled with league royalty, including Hall of Famers like Peyton Manning, Bruce Smith, and John Elway. But who was the first player to be picked No. 1 in NFL history?
Jay Berwanger Makes NFL History
Jay Berwanger became the first NFL player chosen No. 1 overall when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the league’s inaugural 1936 draft.
Berwanger played halfback at the University of Chicago. In 1935, he posted 577 rushing yards and 405 passing yards, scored six touchdowns, and added five extra points for good measure.
That performance was enough to earn Berwanger the first Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, which was renamed the Heisman Trophy in 1936. Additionally, Berwanger was a unanimous All-American and was named the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.
Berwanger was then selected first overall by the Eagles in 1936, but Philadelphia didn’t believe they could meet his asking price of $1,000 per game. Thus, the Eagles traded Berwanger’s rights to the Chicago Bears in exchange for offensive tackle Art Buss.
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Berwanger, who had competed in track and field at the University of Chicago, declined to sign with the Bears because he wanted to retain his amateur athletic status. He had hoped to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the 1936 Summer Olympics.
When Berwanger missed out on the Olympics, he tried to work out a contract with Bears owner George Halas. Berwanger asked for a $15,000 salary, while Halas offered just $13,500.
After failing to agree to a deal with the Bears, Berwanger never played in the NFL. However, he did become a millionaire by founding Jay Berwanger Inc., a manufacturing sales company that exists to this day.
Berwanger still found a way to stay involved in football. In addition to coaching the freshman team at the University of Chicago, he worked as a sports columnist for the Chicago Daily News and served as a college football referee, including at the 1949 Rose Bowl between Northwestern and Cal.