The 1989 NFL draft (also known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting) 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. 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 April 23–24,
1989
1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...
, at the
Marriott Marquis in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
,
New York. The league also held a
supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
Four of the first five players selected in the draft – quarterback
Troy Aikman, running back
Barry Sanders, linebacker
Derrick Thomas, and cornerback
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. (born August 9, 1967) is an American American football, football coach with the Colorado Buffaloes football, Colorado Buffaloes. Sanders is also a former professional football and baseball player, having played in the N ...
– would be inducted to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional football (gridiron), professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, 1963, the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of profes ...
. Tackle
Tony Mandarich, the only top five pick not inducted, is considered a draft bust.
The 1989 NFL draft also helped set a major precedent, as Barry Sanders was selected with the third overall pick despite an NFL rule stating that collegiate juniors could not declare for the draft. Since Barry Sanders was selected as a junior, it has become an expectation for top college players to declare for the draft after their junior season; the rule disallowing collegiate juniors in the NFL draft was lifted by the next draft. Sanders, the 1988
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( ; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust followin ...
winner, was allowed to declare early when
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State University (informally Oklahoma State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. The university was established in 1890 under the legislation of the Morrill Act. Originally known ...
was found guilty of numerous major
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
rule violations and placed on five years' probation in January 1989.
Another precedent the draft helped set was how players were invited to the actual draft room. First overall selection Aikman was represented by
Leigh Steinberg, who went with his client to the draft finding he was the only player there. As years followed, more players began getting invited to the draft.
Player selections
Supplemental draft
:* The
supplemental draft was held on Friday, July 7.
Notable undrafted players
Hall of Famers
*
Barry Sanders, running back from Oklahoma State, taken third overall by Detroit Lions. 1988 Heisman Trophy winner.
:Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2004
*
Troy Aikman, quarterback from UCLA, taken first overall by Dallas Cowboys.
:Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2006
*
Derrick Thomas, linebacker from Alabama, taken fourth overall by Kansas City Chiefs.
:Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2009 (posthumous)
*
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. (born August 9, 1967) is an American American football, football coach with the Colorado Buffaloes football, Colorado Buffaloes. Sanders is also a former professional football and baseball player, having played in the N ...
, cornerback from Florida State, taken fifth overall by Atlanta Falcons.
:Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2011
*
Steve Atwater, safety from Arkansas, taken twentieth overall by Denver Broncos.
:Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2020
Trades
In the explanations below, (D) denotes trades that took place during the 1989 Draft, while (PD) indicates trades completed pre-draft.
;Round one
;Round two
;Round three
;Round four
;Round five
;Round six
;Round seven
-->
Notes
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:1989 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
American football in New York City
1980s in Manhattan
Sporting events in New York City
Sports in Manhattan