1977 NFL draft

The 1977 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1977, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York. The league also held its first supplemental draft, which took place after the regular draft and before the regular season.

This was the first draft in the common draft era (since 1967) with twelve rounds, five rounds fewer than the previous decade. The draft had twelve rounds until reduced to eight in 1993 and seven the following year, where it has remained since.

The draft began with commissioner Pete Rozelle dedicating a moment of silence to California quarterback Joe Roth, one of the most electric passers in college football. Eligible for this draft, he died in February from skin cancer at the age of 21.

With the first overall pick of the draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected USC running back Ricky Bell. Next was Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett of national champion Pittsburgh, taken by the Dallas Cowboys.

Player selections = Pro Bowler = Hall of Famer

* = compensatory selection † = Pro BowlerPlayers are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career. ‡= Hall of FamerPlayers are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Round 1–10

Round 11

Pick # NFL team Player Position College280Tampa Bay BuccaneersSammy StrockTight EndUniversity of Alabama281Tampa Bay BuccaneersJohn BafiaQuarterbackBoston College282Buffalo BillsNate JacksonRunning backTennessee State283Philadelphia EaglesRocco MooreTackleWestern Michigan284New York GiantsBill HelmsTight endSan Diego State285New Orleans SaintsJohn BlainTackleSan Jose State286Philadelphia EaglesMike CordovaQuarterbackStanford287Atlanta FalconsDave FarmerRunning backUSC288Kansas City ChiefsMaurice MitchellWide receiverNorthern Michigan289Houston OilersAl RomanoLinebackerPittsburgh290Green Bay PackersTerry RandolphDefensive backAmerican International291Miami DolphinsJohn AlexanderDefensive endRutgers292Cincinnati BengalsJoel ParrishGuardGeorgia293Detroit LionsTony DaykinLinebackerGeorgia Tech294Chicago BearsConnie ZelencikCenterPurdue295San Francisco 49ersBrian BillickTight endBrigham Young296Cleveland BrownsCharles NashWide receiverArizona297Denver BroncosPhil HeckLinebackerCalifornia298Pittsburgh SteelersLou WestDefensive backCincinnati299Cincinnati BengalsCarl AllenDefensive backSouthern Mississippi300Washington RedskinsDon HarrisDefensive backRutgers301St. Louis CardinalsGreg LeeDefensive backWestern Illinois302Los Angeles RamsCarson LongKickerPittsburgh303New England PatriotsRay CostictLinebackerMississippi State304Baltimore ColtsBrian RuffLinebackerThe Citadel305Dallas CowboysDon WardlowTight endWashington306Minnesota VikingsKeith HartwigWide receiverArizona307New York JetsDave ButterfieldDefensive backNebraska

Round 12

Pick # NFL team Player Position College308Tampa Bay BuccaneersChip SheffieldWide receiverLenoir-Rhyne309Buffalo BillsCharles RomesDefensive backNorth Carolina Central310Pittsburgh SteelersJimmy StephensTight endFlorida311New York GiantsElmo SimmonsRunning backTexas-Arlington312New York JetsPhil GargisRunning backAuburn313New York JetsDave ConradTackleMaryland314St. Louis CardinalsDon ParrishDefensive endPittsburgh315New Orleans SaintsOakley DaltonDefensive tackleJackson State316Houston OilersOve JohanssonKickerAbilene Christian317Oakland RaidersRod MartinLinebackerUSC318Kansas City ChiefsRay BurksLinebackerUCLA319San Diego ChargersJim StansikTight endEastern Michigan320Minnesota VikingsAdam DzierdzikCorner BackOhio State321Miami DolphinsTerry AndersonWide receiverBethune-Cookman322Chicago BearsKyle EckeWide ReceiverJackson State323San Francisco 49ersStephen AragonGuardNorth Dakota324Denver BroncosEthan RanneyTight endWestern Illinois325Chicago BearsAnthony DzierdzikCenterGeorgia Tech326Cincinnati BengalsEthan VenderveenWide receiverMorehouse (GA)327Washington RedskinsJustin VenderveenDefensive endMissouri328St. Louis CardinalsElliot EckeLinebackerTexas329Seattle SeahawksCharlie KirkDefensive tackleTulsa330Los Angeles RamsBenedict FernziWide ReciaverIllinois331Baltimore ColtsBill DeutschRunning BackNorth Dakota332Dallas CowboysGreg PetersGuardCalifornia333New England PatriotsDave PrestonRunning backBowling Green334Oakland RaidersRolf BenirschkeKickerCalifornia-Davis335 This last selection is commonly referred to as Mr. Irrelevant.Minnesota VikingsJim KelleherRunning BackColorado = Pro Bowler = Hall of Famer

Supplemental draft

Notable undrafted players † = Pro Bowler ‡= Hall of Famer

Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett, running back from Pittsburgh, taken 1st round 2nd overall by Dallas Cowboys Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1994.List of 1990s Hall of Fame Inductee's at profootballhof.com Tony Dungy, safety from Minnesota, undrafted and signed by Pittsburgh Steelers Inducted: For his Head Coaching achievements Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2016. Joe Klecko, defensive tackle from Temple, taken 6th round 144th overall by New York Jets Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

References

External links NFL.com – 1977 Draft

Pro Football Hall of Fame 1977 NFL Draft Listing at Pro Football Reference