The 1981 NFL draft was the procedure by which

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

teams selected amateur

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The

draft Draft, the draft, or draught may refer to: Watercraft dimensions * Draft (hull), the distance from waterline to keel of a vessel * Draft (sail), degree of curvature in a sail * Air draft, distance from waterline to the highest point on a v ...

was held during April 28–29,

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

, at the New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season. For the first time, the top two picks of the draft, running back George Rogers selected by the

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...

and linebacker Lawrence Taylor picked by the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

, were named Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, respectively.

Player selections

Supplemental draft

Hall of Famers

* Mike Singletary, linebacker from Baylor, taken 2nd round 38th overall by the Chicago Bears :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1998.List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com * Lawrence Taylor, linebacker from North Carolina, taken 1st round 2nd overall by the New York Giants :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1999. * Ronnie Lott, cornerback from Southern California, taken 1st round 8th overall by the San Francisco 49ers :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2000.List of 2000s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com * Howie Long, defensive tackle from Villanova, taken 2nd round 48th overall by the Oakland Raiders :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2000. *

Rickey Jackson Rickey Anderson Jackson (born March 20, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints (1981–1993) and the San Francisco 49ers (1994–1995). He ...

, linebacker from Pittsburgh, taken 2nd round 51st overall by the New Orleans Saints :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2010.Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 announced *

Russ Grimm Russell Scott Grimm (born May 2, 1959) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a Guard (American football), guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He has also served as an a ...

, offensive guard from Pittsburgh, taken 3rd round 69th overall by the Washington Redskins :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2010. * Kenny Easley, safety from UCLA, taken 1st round 4th overall by the Seattle Seahawks :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2017. * Sam Mills, linebacker from Montclair State, signed undrafted by the Cleveland Browns :Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2022 (posthumous).

Notable undrafted players

References

External links

NFL.com – 1981 Draft
*
Pro Football Hall of Fame
{{DEFAULTSORT:1981 Nfl Draft NFL draft

NFL Draft The NFL draft, officially known as the Annual Player Selection Meeting, is an annual event which serves as the most common source of player recruitment in the National Football League. Each team is given a position in the drafting order in reve ...

Draft Draft, the draft, or draught may refer to: Watercraft dimensions * Draft (hull), the distance from waterline to keel of a vessel * Draft (sail), degree of curvature in a sail * Air draft, distance from waterline to the highest point on a v ...

American football in New York City 1980s in Manhattan Sporting events in New York City Sports in Manhattan