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NFL Draft Trivia

  • 5 hours ago
  • 3 min read

By Paula Green



From April 23 to 25, Pittsburgh welcomes the NFL Draft back for the first time since 1948. During three action-packed days at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium, 257 players will be chosen over seven rounds. The Steelers are set to make their move with the 21st pick.

This is the 91st NFL Draft, which started in 1936 to give weaker teams a better chance by letting them pick new players first. Before that, players could sign with any team. This change helped create the competitive balance we see today.


Every team starts with one pick per round, though trades can shuffle the order. Teams gain compensatory picks at the end of rounds three through seven when they lose more prized free agents than they gain.


In the inaugural 1936 NFL Draft, league staff gathered in a hotel ballroom with just 81 players to choose from. The Eagles selected Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger first overall, but he decided not to play football and instead went into the foam-rubber business.

Not every draftee meets expectations, but occasionally a hidden gem emerges. For example, Tom Brady, selected 199th overall in the sixth round by the Patriots, went on to win seven Super Bowl rings and is soon-to-be Canton-bound.


The 1974 draft was spectacular for the Steelers. They picked four future Hall of Famers: Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster. These legends powered the team to four Super Bowl victories and ignited unforgettable celebrations in Pittsburgh. Moments like these define the Steelers’ legacy.


The draft was held in New York City for 50 straight years (1965–2014). The NFL switched to a rotating, multi-city format in 2015 to get more fans involved nationwide. Next year’s draft will be in Washington, D.C.


Since we have picked our way through NFL drafts, we must now select the best answers for this football query. Get set to don your best NFL apparel because it’s time to get a little trivial.


  1. When the draft was held in New York City for 50 years, where was it held?


  2. In 1969, O.J. Simpson was the number one draft pick signed by the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers drafted strategically that year and got this “mean” defensive lineman (#75).


  3. Who was the quarterback drafted by the Steelers in the first round of 1970 who went on to win four Super Bowls?


  4. Which state university did Franco Harris attend before being drafted by the Steelers in 1972?


  5. Who was the quarterback selected first overall by the Colts in 1983 and later traded to the Broncos after refusing to play for Baltimore?


  6. Which NFL team originally drafted Jerome Bettis 10th overall in 1993 before the Steelers acquired him in 1996?


  7. Who was the No. 1 overall pick in 1998 selected by the Indianapolis Colts? He was a five-time MVP with both a father and brother who were NFL quarterbacks.


  8. In which year did the Steelers draft quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the first round (11th overall)?


  9. What milestone first occurred at the 1980 NFL Draft and has happened every year since?


  10. Who did the Steelers draft in the first round of 2003, nicknamed the “Tasmanian Devil” for his play as safety?


  11. Which quarterback was chosen 24th overall by the Packers in 2005?


  12. Which Big Ten University in a neighboring state holds the record for most first-round NFL Draft picks (91)?


  13. The Steelers traded up in the 2006 draft to select which receiver? He was named the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 for his game-winning catch.


  14. This current Steeler was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 30th overall pick. He was selected from the University of Wisconsin.


  15. What is the nickname for the player who is picked last in the NFL Draft?



Answers: 1. Radio City Music Hall 2. Joe Greene 3. Terry Bradshaw 4. Penn State 5. John Elway 6. Los Angeles Rams 7. Peyton Manning 8. 2004 9. first year televised 10. Troy Polamalu 11. Aaron Rogers 12. Ohio State 13. Santonio Holmes 14. T.J. Watt 15. Mr. Irrelevant



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