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The 1979 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, 1979 , at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City , New York .[ 1] [ 2] The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
The Buffalo Bills held the first overall pick in the draft, acquired from the San Francisco 49ers in the trade which sent O.J. Simpson to his hometown team. The Bills' selection at No. 1, Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau , refused to sign with the Bills and instead inked a lucrative deal with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League .
Cousineau returned to the United States in 1982 to play for the Cleveland Browns , his hometown franchise.
Player selections
Round one
Round two
Round three
Round four
Round five
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
111
San Francisco 49ers
Tom Seabron
Linebacker
Michigan
112
Kansas City Chiefs
Earl Gant
Running Back
Missouri
113
Cincinnati Bengals
Casey Merrill
Defensive End
California-Davis
114
Buffalo Bills
Rod Kush
Defensive Back
Nebraska-Omaha
115
Baltimore Colts
Larry Braziel
Defensive Back
USC
116
Buffalo Bills
Dan Manucci
Quarterback
Kansas State
117
New York Giants
Cleveland Jackson
Tight End
UNLV
118
St. Louis Cardinals
Steve Henry
Defensive Back
Emporia State
119
San Francisco 49ers
Jerry Aldridge
Running Back
Angelo State
120
New Orleans Saints
Harlan Huckleby
Running Back
Michigan
121
Dallas Cowboys
Bob Hukill
Offensive Guard
North Carolina
122
Los Angeles Rams
Victor Hicks
Tight End
Oklahoma
123
New York Jets
Kelly Kirchbaum
Linebacker
Kentucky
124
Cleveland Browns
Rich Dimler
Defensive Tackle
USC
125
New York Jets
Stan Blinka
Linebacker
Sam Houston State
126
Philadelphia Eagles
Scott Fitzkee
Wide Receiver
Penn State
127
Atlanta Falcons
Mike Zele
Defensive Tackle
Kent State
128
Dallas Cowboys
Curtis Anderson
Defensive End
Central State (OH)
129
Minnesota Vikings
Jerry Meter
Linebacker
Michigan
130
St. Louis Cardinals
Mark Bell
Wide Receiver
Colorado State
131
Detroit Lions
Walt Brown
Center
Pittsburgh
132
Denver Broncos
Rick Leach
Quarterback
Michigan
133
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chuck Fusina
Quarterback
Penn State
134
Miami Dolphins
Don Bessillieu
Defensive Back
Georgia Tech
135
New England Patriots
John Zamberlin
Linebacker
Pacific Lutheran
136
Dallas Cowboys
Ron Springs
Running Back
Ohio State
137
Pittsburgh Steelers
Dwaine Board
Defensive End
North Carolina A&T
Round six
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
138
San Francisco 49ers
Ruben Vaughan
Defensive Tackle
Colorado
139
Cincinnati Bengals
Steve Kreider
Wide Receiver
Lehigh
140
Kansas City Chiefs
Spider Gaines
Wide Receiver
Washington
141
Buffalo Bills
Mike Burrow
Offensive Guard
Auburn
142
Oakland Raiders
Ira Matthews
Wide Receiver
Wisconsin
143
Houston Oilers
Daryl Hunt
Linebacker
Oklahoma
144
St. Louis Cardinals
Thomas Lott
Running Back
Oklahoma
145
New York Giants
Bob Torrey
Running Back
Penn State
146
New Orleans Saints
Ricky Ray
Defensive Back
Norfolk State
147
Chicago Bears
John Sullivan
Linebacker
Illinois
148
Denver Broncos
Jeff McIntyre
Linebacker
Arizona State
149
New York Jets
Bill Dufek
Offensive Guard
Michigan
150
Baltimore Colts
Jim Moore
Tackle
Ohio State
151
Cleveland Browns
Clinton Burrell
Defensive Back
Louisiana State
152
Minnesota Vikings
Joe Senser
Tight End
West Chester (PA)
153
Green Bay Packers
Dave Simmons
Linebacker
North Carolina
154
Atlanta Falcons
Mike Moroski
Quarterback
California-Davis
155
Dallas Cowboys
Tim Lavender
Defensive Back
USC
156
Oakland Raiders
Henry Williams
Defensive Back
San Diego State
157
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bill Murrell
Tight End
Winston-Salem State
158
New York Giants
Eddie Hicks
Running Back
East Carolina
159
Houston Oilers
Mike Murphy
Linebacker
SW Missouri State
160
Dallas Cowboys
Mike Salzano
Offensive Guard
North Carolina
161
Pittsburgh Steelers
Dwayne Woodruff
Defensive Back
Louisville
162
Miami Dolphins
Steve Lindquist
Offensive Guard
Nebraska
163
Cleveland Browns
Jim Ronan
Defensive Tackle
Minnesota
164
Dallas Cowboys
Chris DeFrance
Wide Receiver
Arizona State
165
Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Bahr
Kicker
Penn State
0
Buffalo Bills (supplemental draft)
Rod Stewart
Running Back
Kentucky
Round seven
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
166
San Francisco 49ers
Phil Francis
Running Back
Stanford
167
Kansas City Chiefs
Ken Kremer
Defensive End
Ball State
168
Cincinnati Bengals
Max Montoya
Offensive Tackle
UCLA
169
Seattle Seahawks
Larry Polowski
Linebacker
Boise State
170
Buffalo Bills
Tom Mullady
Tight End
Rhodes College
171
Houston Oilers
Tim Ries
Defensive Back
SW Missouri State
172
New York Giants
Steve Alvers
Tight End
Miami (FL)
173
St. Louis Cardinals
Kirk Gibson
Wide Receiver
Michigan State
174
Chicago Bears
Lee Kunz
Linebacker
Nebraska
175
Oakland Raiders
Jack Matia
Offensive Tackle
Drake
176
New Orleans Saints
Stan Sytsma
Linebacker
Minnesota
177
New England Patriots
Judson Flint
Defensive Back
Memphis State
178
Philadelphia Eagles
Don Swafford
Offensive Tackle
Florida
179
New York Jets
Emmett King
Running Back
Houston
180
Green Bay Packers
Henry Monroe
Defensive Back
Mississippi State
181
Minnesota Vikings
Bob Winkel
Defensive Tackle
Kentucky
182
Washington Redskins
Rich Milot
Linebacker
Penn State
183
Cleveland Browns
Cody Risien
Offensive Tackle
Texas A&M
184
Green Bay Packers
Rich Wingo
Linebacker
Alabama
185
Philadelphia Eagles
Curtis Bunche
Defensive End
Albany State
186
Atlanta Falcons
Roger Westlund
Offensive Tackle
Washington
187
New York Jets
Keith Brown
Defensive Back
Minnesota
188
Denver Broncos
Luke Prestridge
Punter
Baylor
189
Miami Dolphins
Uwe von Schamann
Kicker
Oklahoma
190
Los Angeles Rams
Jeff Delaney
Defensive Back
Pittsburgh
191
Dallas Cowboys
Greg Fitzpatrick
Linebacker
Youngstown State
192
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bruce Kimball
Offensive Guard
Massachusetts
Round eight
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
193
Green Bay Packers
Ron Cassidy
Wide Receiver
Utah State
194
Cincinnati Bengals
Howie Kurnick
Linebacker
Cincinnati
195
Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Williams
Running Back
New Mexico
196
Philadelphia Eagles
Chuck Correal
Center
Penn State
197
Baltimore Colts
Steve Heimkreiter
Linebacker
Notre Dame
198
New York Jets
Marshall Harris
Defensive Tackle
Texas Christian
199
St. Louis Cardinals
Larry Miller
Linebacker
Brigham Young
200
New York Giants
D.K. Perry
Defensive Back
Southern Methodist
201
New York Giants
Roy Simmons
Offensive Guard
Georgia Tech
202
New Orleans Saints
Doug Panfil
Offensive Guard
Tulsa
203
Chicago Bears
Rick Moss
Defensive Back
Purdue
204
Cleveland Browns
Kent Perkov
Defensive End
San Diego State
205
New York Jets
Willie Beamon
Linebacker
Boise State
206
Miami Dolphins
Jeff Groth
Wide Receiver
Bowling Green
207
Baltimore Colts
Nesby Glasgow
Defensive Back
Washington
208
Green Bay Packers
Rick Partridge
Punter
Utah
209
Oakland Raiders
Robert Hawkins
Running Back
Kentucky
210
San Diego Chargers
Wilbert Haslip
Running Back
Hawaii
211
Philadelphia Eagles
Max Runager
Punter
South Carolina
212
Atlanta Falcons
Keith Miller
Linebacker
N.E. Oklahoma
213
Detroit Lions
John Mohring
Linebacker
C.W. Post
214
Houston Oilers
Carter Hartwig
Defensive Back
USC
215
Miami Dolphins
Glenn Blackwood
Defensive Back
Texas
216
New England Patriots
Randy Love
Running Back
Houston
217
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gene Sanders
Defensive Tackle
Texas A&M
218
Kansas City Chiefs
Robert Brewer
Offensive Guard
Temple
219
Dallas Cowboys
Bruce Thornton
Defensive Tackle
Illinois
220
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tom Graves
Linebacker
Michigan State
Round nine
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
221
San Francisco 49ers
Steve Hamilton
Defensive Tackle
Missouri
222
Kansas City Chiefs
James Folston
Tight End
Cameron
223
Cincinnati Bengals
Scott Burk
Defensive Back
Oklahoma State
224
Baltimore Colts
Russ Henderson
Punter
Virginia
225
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Henry Vereen
Wide Receiver
UNLV
226
Buffalo Bills
Keven Baker
Defensive End
William Penn
227
New York Giants
Tom Rusk
Linebacker
Iowa
228
St. Louis Cardinals
Bob Rozier
Defensive End
California
229
Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Robinson
Offensive Tackle
Ohio State
230
Chicago Bears
Jerome Heavens
Running Back
Notre Dame
231
Detroit Lions
Jeff Komlo
Quarterback
Delaware
232
New York Jets
Gordy Sprattler
Running Back
North Dakota State
233
Washington Redskins
Kris Haines
Wide Receiver
Notre Dame
234
Cleveland Browns
Carl McGee
Linebacker
Duke
235
Green Bay Packers
John Thompson
Tight End
Utah State
236
Minnesota Vikings
Billy Diggs
Wide Receiver
Winston-Salem State
237
San Diego Chargers
Alvin Garrett
Wide Receiver
Angelo State
238
Oakland Raiders
Jim Rourke
Offensive Tackle
Boston College
239
Atlanta Falcons
Dave Parkin
Defensive Back
Utah State
240
Seattle Seahawks
Ezra Tate
Running Back
Mississippi State
241
Cleveland Browns
Curtis Weathers
Tight End
Mississippi
242
Denver Broncos
Charlie Taylor
Wide Receiver
Rice
243
Houston Oilers
Richard Ellender
Wide Receiver
McNeese State
244
Miami Dolphins
Jeff Weston
Defensive Tackle
Notre Dame
245
New England Patriots
John Spagnola
Tight End
Yale
246
Los Angeles Rams
Jeff Rutledge
Quarterback
Alabama
247
Dallas Cowboys
Garry Cobb
Linebacker
USC
248
Pittsburgh Steelers
Rick Kirk
Defensive End
Denison
Round ten
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
249
San Francisco 49ers
Dwight Clark
Wide Receiver
Clemson
250
Cincinnati Bengals
Nathan Poole
Running Back
Louisville
251
Kansas City Chiefs
Mike DuPree
Linebacker
Florida
252
San Francisco 49ers
Howard Ballage
Defensive Back
Colorado
253
Buffalo Bills
Dave Marler
Quarterback
Mississippi State
254
Baltimore Colts
Steve Stephens
Tight End
Oklahoma State
255
St. Louis Cardinals
Jerry Holloway
Tight End
Western Illinois
256
New York Giants
Dan Fowler
Offensive Guard
Kentucky
257
Chicago Bears
Joe Restic
Defensive Back
Notre Dame
258
Miami Dolphins
Jerome Stanton
Defensive Back
Michigan State
259
Oakland Raiders
Ricky Smith
Defensive Back
Tulane
260
Kansas City Chiefs
Gerald Jackson
Defensive Back
Mississippi State
261
Cleveland Browns
John Smith
Wide Receiver
Tennessee State
262
New York Jets
Steve Sybeldon
Offensive Tackle
North Dakota
263
New York Jets
Ed McGlasson
Center
Youngstown State
264
Green Bay Packers
Frank Lockett
Wide Receiver
Nebraska
265
San Diego Chargers
Tony Petruccio
Defensive Tackle
Penn State
266
Atlanta Falcons
Bruce Beekley
Linebacker
Oregon
267
Seattle Seahawks
Robert Hardy
Defensive Tackle
Jackson State
268
Kansas City Chiefs
Larry Willis
Wide Receiver
Alcorn State
269
San Diego Chargers
Al Green
Defensive Back
LSU
270
New England Patriots
Martin Cox
Wide Receiver
Vanderbilt
271
New England Patriots
Allan Clark
Running Back
Northern Arizona
272
Miami Dolphins
Mike Kozlowski
Running Back
Colorado
273
Los Angeles Rams
Grady Ebensberger
Defensive Tackle
Houston
274
Dallas Cowboys
Mike Calhoun
Defensive Tackle
Notre Dame
275
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tod Thompson
Tight End
Brigham Young
Round eleven
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
276
San Francisco 49ers
Billy McBride
Defensive Back
Tennessee State
277
Kansas City Chiefs
Stan Rome
Wide Receiver
Clemson
278
Cincinnati Bengals
Ken Bungarda
Defensive End
Missouri
279
Buffalo Bills
Paul Lawler
Defensive Back
Colgate
280
Baltimore Colts
John Priestner
Linebacker
Western Ontario
281
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bob Rippentrop
Tight End
Fresno State
282
New York Giants
Mike Mince
Defensive Back
Fresno State
283
St. Louis Cardinals
Nate Henderson
Offensive Tackle
Florida State
284
New York Giants
Ken Johnson
Running Back
Miami (FL)
285
New Orleans Saints
David Hall
Wide Receiver
Missouri-Rolla
286
Chicago Bears
Bob Wright
Offensive Tackle
Cincinnati
287
Cleveland Browns
Randy Poeschl
Defensive End
Nebraska
288
New York Jets
Danny Sanders
Quarterback
Carson-Newman
289
Washington Redskins
Monte Coleman
Linebacker
Central Arkansas
290
Green Bay Packers
Mark Thorson
Defensive Back
Ottawa (KS)
291
Minnesota Vikings
Brian Nelson
Wide Receiver
Texas Tech
292
Atlanta Falcons
Bill Leer
Center
Colorado State
293
Seattle Seahawks
Jim Hinesly
Offensive Guard
Michigan State
294
Oakland Raiders
Bruce Davis
Offensive Tackle
UCLA
295
San Diego Chargers
Dave Rader
Quarterback
Tulsa
296
Philadelphia Eagles
Al Chesley
Linebacker
Pittsburgh
297
Denver Broncos
Zach Dixon
Running Back
Temple
298
Houston Oilers
Mike Taylor
Offensive Tackle
Georgia Tech
299
Miami Dolphins
Mike Blanton
Defensive End
Georgia Tech
300
Washington Redskins
Tony Hall
Wide Receiver
Knoxville
301
Los Angeles Rams
Jesse Deremus
Defensive Tackle
Tennessee State
302
Detroit Lions
Eddie Cole
Linebacker
Mississippi
303
Pittsburgh Steelers
Charlie Moore
Center
Wichita State
Round twelve
Pick #
NFL Team
Player
Position
College
304
Cincinnati Bengals
Jim Browner
Defensive Back
Notre Dame
305
Kansas City Chiefs
Michael Forrest
Running Back
Arkansas
306
Baltimore Colts
Charlie Green
Wide Receiver
Kansas State
307
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dave Logan
Defensive Tackle
Pittsburgh
308
Buffalo Bills
Mike Harris
Running Back
Arizona State
309
St. Louis Cardinals
Rick McBride
Linebacker
Georgia
310
New York Giants
Tim Gillespie
Offensive Guard
North Carolina State
311
New Orleans Saints
Kelsey Finch
Running Back
Tennessee
312
Chicago Bears
Dave Becker
Defensive Back
Iowa
313
Detroit Lions
Bob Forster
Center
Brown
314
New York Jets
Paul Darby
Wide Receiver
Southwest Texas State
315
Cleveland Browns
Dewitt Methvin
Center
Tulane
316
Oakland Raiders
Dirk Abernathy
Defensive Back
Bowling Green
317
Minnesota Vikings
David Stephens
Linebacker
Kentucky
318
Green Bay Packers
Bill Moats
Punter
South Dakota
319
Seattle Seahawks
Jeff Moore
Running Back
Jackson State
320
Oakland Raiders
Reggie Kinlaw
Defensive Tackle
Oklahoma
321
San Diego Chargers
Frank Duncan
Defensive Back
San Francisco State
322
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ed Smith
Linebacker
Vanderbilt
323
Atlanta Falcons
Stuard Walker
Linebacker
Colorado
324
Houston Oilers
Wayne Wilson
Running Back
Shepherd College
325
Denver Broncos
Dave Jacobs
Kicker
Syracuse
326
Detroit Lions
Brian Sweeney
Wide Receiver
Texas A&I
327
Miami Dolphins
Larry Fortnet
Quarterback
Miami (OH)
328
Los Angeles Rams
Drew Hill
Wide Receiver
Georgia Tech
329
Dallas Cowboys
Quentin Lowry
Linebacker
Youngstown State
330 [ 5]
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Almond
Wide Receiver
Northwest Louisiana
= Pro Bowler [ 3]
= Hall of Famer
Hall of Famers
Kellen Winslow , tight end from Missouri taken 1st round 13th overall by the San Diego Chargers.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1995.[ 6]
Joe Montana , quarterback from Notre Dame taken 3rd round 82nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2000.[ 7]
Dan Hampton , defensive tackle from Arkansas taken 1st round 4th overall by the Chicago Bears.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2002.[ 7]
Notable undrafted players
References
External links