1967 NFL Draft: Oral history – First common draft following league merger

Packers team historian Cliff Christl has assembled an oral history series on the NFL Draft, highlighting significant and noteworthy years as a prelude to Green Bay hosting the 2025 draft in late April. New installments will be posted most weekdays. For access to the full series thus far, click here.

1967

The 32nd NFL Draft was the first common draft held following the June 1966 merger agreement between the National Football League, which had been in existence for 46 years, and the American Football League, which had been playing for only six seasons.

The draft was held over two days from March 14-15, 1967, with the Hotel Gotham in New York serving as the command post. A record 25 teams participated and selected a record 445 players over 17 rounds.

On the first day, the selections started at 9 a.m. (CST) and five rounds were completed by 8:44 p.m. The final 12 rounds were held the second day. While the draft finished ahead of schedule and didn't compare in length to the marathon sessions when the two leagues were in competition with each other to sign players, the entire process still took 21 hours, 39 minutes.

A 15-minute time limit was imposed for the first and second rounds, but it was loosely enforced. For example, the Chicago Bears, who drafted 10th, took an extra eight minutes because they were deluged with trade proposals before selecting Arkansas defensive end Loyd Phillips.

Earlier, the first common draft was postponed for close to two months, largely because of Vince Lombardi's stance on the drafting of so-called "futures," or players who had been redshirted and had college eligibility remaining.

NFL rules had stipulated that those players were eligible for the draft when their original class graduated but were also prohibited from signing contracts until their college eligibility had expired. The AFL had conducted a separate "redshirt" draft following the completion of the formal phase of their selections.

Soon after the merger agreement, AFL owners started lobbying for their two-draft system. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and the majority of his league's 15 owners at the time also favored that plan.

Hoping to hold the first common draft on Jan. 31, 1967, Rozelle held a special NFL meeting in New York more than a month in advance to try and push through the two-draft plan. Unable to get the necessary votes, Rozelle tried again in another special meeting the morning after Super Bowl I.

But Lombardi was still opposed to the idea, and the NFL's rules required a unanimous vote to change its bylaws and constitution at a special meeting. Thus, Rozelle had to wait until the NFL's annual meeting held in Honolulu in February 1967 to force the issue again.

There, Lombardi needed three or four teams – depending on if the New Orleans expansion franchise was given a vote or not – to side with him on including redshirts in the general draft. He failed – largely perhaps – because other NFL owners were just as leery about him taking advantage of the rule. Lombardi had been stockpiling draft picks since at least 1962 by trading fringe veterans and rookies on his talent-rich roster for draft picks, and then using them to draft more futures.

New York Times sports columnist Arthur Daley (Jan. 17, 1967): "No one admitted as much (following the post-Super Bowl meeting) but Vince Lombardi of the Packers was ready to veto the proposition if formally presented. At the annual meeting, however, his bullet ballot will lack veto powers and he can be outvoted. And probably will, too."

New York Giants owner Wellington Mara on Lombardi's opposition to eliminating the drafting of futures (Christl interview, Jan. 10, 1979): "Vince Lombardi, I guess, used it as well as anybody ever did. It was a means that the club that had an advantage and didn't need players for the immediate future was able to acquire future draft picks in effect. Donny Anderson was a pick Vince made for Green Bay that he would have never been able to make the following year. Somebody else would have taken him. It was a way of stockpiling."

All along, Lombardi's only ally was Bears owner George Halas. What's more, AFL owners had gone on record as favoring their two-draft system.

In advance of the 1967 draft, Lombardi had acquired 10 extra picks in the first five rounds, and with 25 teams now drafting, the fear was that he was planning to load up on "futures" in the regular phase, while lesser talented teams were seeking immediate help.

In fact, there was speculation that Lombardi planned to draft Notre Dame defensive tackle Kevin Hardy as a future with one of his two first-round choices.

With the issue being debated throughout the week and Lombardi trying to strong-arm other owners to support his position, Rozelle was forced to announce on the fifth and final day of the annual meeting, "We do not have a plan established for the draft."

That said, according to the NFL's meeting minutes, Rozelle asked at some point if there was any opposition to the compromise proposal that there be "no redshirt drafting" at all. Rozelle also had to point out that even if all NFL owners were on board with the plan, they'd still need the AFL owners to agree before implementing it.

Packers public relations director Chuck Lane, on team president Dominic Olejniczak backing down and going against Lombardi's wishes (Christl interview, Sept. 15, 2009): "I remember (Lombardi) being royally pissed off about the abolition of the redshirt draft. We were able to have only one representative at the league meeting in those days and it was Ole. Lombardi told Olejniczak he wanted protection, he wanted to keep the redshirt draft. He felt Green Bay, as successful as we were, had to be able to draft the junior eligibles. Ole apparently voted for it, and I thought Lombardi was going to have a fricking hemorrhage. 'The son of a bitch,' basically has knifed me. He said he just undercut me."

It took 12 more days, but finally on March 8, 1967, Rozelle announced the draft would be held the following week and "futures" would no longer be part of the player pool in any form.

However, the rights to 85 players who had been selected as futures in the 1966 NFL and AFL drafts were retained by the teams that had selected them. As of draft day 1967, more than half of those players already had signed contracts.

Smith, Jones, Webster & Washington: A quartet like no other

The first common draft produced an unprecedented and yet to be duplicated bonanza. Four players from Michigan State were selected among the first eight picks. Defensive end Bubba Smith was taken first overall by the Baltimore Colts; halfback Clinton Jones, second by Minnesota; linebacker George Webster, fifth by the Houston Oilers; and offensive end Gene Washington, eighth, also by Minnesota.

The four players were the products of coach Duffy Daugherty's pioneering stance on inclusion. At a time when the major football programs in the South remained segregated and many northern schools abided by quotas of no more than five or six Black players on their rosters, Daugherty welcomed minorities.

In the 1966 national championship showdown against Notre Dame, the soon-to-be 9-0-1 Spartans had 20 Black players on their roster, including 11 starters – one of them being their quarterback and future NFL assistant coach Jimmy Raye – and two captains.

The bellwethers were the first-round picks.

On Bubba Smith (6-7, 268)

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive backfield coach Don Heinrich (Spring 1966 BLESTO Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Has great size, speed, strength and overall ability. Is an outstanding prospect. Has had some problems in the past with attitude and loafed when he got the chance. Is so much stronger, he's not pushed. Pro ball could change this for him."

Steelers personnel director Art Rooney Jr. (Fall 1966 BLESTO Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Very inconsistent. As good as he wants. Rushed QB so hard, he put him out of the game. Lets blocker get to his body but that doesn't usually stop him. Overruns people. Can be mean. Plays some DT and did well. Will have to make an effort to star in NFL but has tools."

Steelers assistant coach Joe Krupa (Fall 1966 BLESTO Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Strong, fast charge. Has a tendency to play too high, but uses hands on pass rush. Tends to relax. When he played was easily cut. Fast."

On Clinton Jones (6-2, 206)

BLESTO scout Bill Daddio (Spring 1966 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Has good speed, eyes, hands and balance. Another (George) McAfee and (Gale) Sayers combination. Should be No. 1 draft choice in the country."

Bill Nunn Jr., Pittsburgh Courier sports editor and part-time Steelers scout (Spring 1966 BLESTO Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Best running back I've seen this spring. Has speed, balance and change of gears. Sets up blocks quite well. Terrific to the outside. Couldn't tell about his catching ability because they didn't use him as a receiver. Running reminds me of Lenny Moore. Can't miss making grade in NFL."

BLESTO scout Jerry Neri (Fall 1966 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "A darting type runner with great quickness to accelerate. Despite his size, he has great leg drive and the power to break tackles. His hands are questionable, although adequate to be able to catch the check off and swing pass. In practice, he showed problems catching deeper type passes – he seems to be stiff fingered and fights the ball."

On George Webster (6-4, 218)

Rooney Jr. (Spring 1966 BLESTO Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Great quickness, pursuit and red-dog. A hitter. Comes up and belts pass catcher. Covers flat well. Wards off blockers. Strong. Good reactions. A real mean streak. Poor hands on interceptions. Great growth potential."

BLESTO scout Ken Stilley (Fall 1966 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Covers a lot of field. Plays rover. I think he will be a great LB. I have never seen him miss a tackle. He stalks his man and lets him have it. Will be great. 10.3 100."

BLESTO scout Ralph Kohl (Fall 1966 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Great prospect. Active and great range. Really 'sticks' tough and great hitter. Makes the big play. Pass cover potential very good. Needs upper body development. Could play DS (strong safety). 1963 – knee surgery, taped now. 1966 neck nerve pinch, wears collar."

On Gene Washington (6-3, 218)

Rooney (Spring 1966 BLESTO Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Runs track. Coaches say he is one of best all-time athletes at Michigan State. Tries to block. Good crack back. Needs work on straight-ahead and downfield blocks. Gets off line nifty. Fights for ball. Quick feet. Jumps high and great deep receiver."

Stilley (Fall 1966 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Can catch the ball well. Will outrun most defenders. I haven't seen him make good fake and cut like a pro, but I don't think he's coached to do so. Great ability. Great pro prospect. Can be a flanker."

Kohl (Fall 1966 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Has slim chance as NFL starter. Gifted. Has everything great except hands. Looked tight and dropped a lot in practice. Maybe bad day."

Smith and Webster were dominant players early in their careers before becoming victims of serious injuries.

In his first five seasons, Smith tallied 43 sacks before they were recognized as an official statistic and was named to two Pro Bowls. He suffered ligament and tendon damage to his right knee in a preseason game in 1972, spent the season on injured reserve and was never the same. He played four more years with Oakland and Houston and registered only 9½ more sacks.

After Webster's first three seasons, his bio in the 1970 Houston Oilers media guide stated, he "is already considered the finest outside linebacker in the game" and is "already in the superstar class." At that point, Webster was a three-time Pro Bowl pick and three-time Associated Press All-Pro. In 1971, Webster injured his knee in the season opener and missed 11 games over two seasons. He finished his career with Pittsburgh and New England without ever playing again at an all-pro level.

Minnesota's first two picks, Jones and Washington, had some good years but were never standouts.

Jones couldn't beat out Dave Osborn, who was a better blocker, more punishing runner and a better fit for coach Bud Grant's between-the-tackles running attack. Only twice in Jones' seven-year career did he rush for more than 500 yards.

Washington made an impact as a big-play receiver for three seasons from 1968-70 when he was named to two Pro Bowls and averaged 17.7 yards and scored 19 TDs on 129 catches, but he suffered a foot injury in 1971 and struggled to get open thereafter. He played six seasons for the Vikings before being traded to Denver.

Chicago Bears general manager and former Vikings GM Jim Finks, second-guessing himself for the Jones and Washington picks (Christl interview, 1983): "Very honestly, we made a horrendous mistake with those three firsts. We took Clinton Jones when we should have taken (Syracuse halfback) Floyd Little. We took Gene Washington, and I don't remember who we passed over. Neither ever proved to be anything more than pretty good football players. Then, finally, we took Alan Page. The thing that got us off Little – looking back now we didn't know enough about the kid – was that he would have been 24 years old. He'd been in the military. But he would have been tailor-made for us up there. Clinton Jones is not a good athlete. He didn't have good eye-to-hand coordination. He didn't know how to block."

The best of the Vikings' three first-round picks turned out to be the last one taken, Notre Dame defensive end Alan Page. The Vikings obtained the 15th choice and end Marlin McKeever in a draft-day trade, giving up halfback Tommy Mason, end Hal Bledsoe and a second-round selection in exchange. One of seven Notre Dame players taken in the first three rounds, Page (6-5, 255) was projected as a defensive tackle.

The Vikings made their selections from a most unlikely draft room.

Grant on his first draft as Vikings coach (Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 27, 2018): "Jim Finks had a medical condition. He was in the hospital. … (Director of player personnel) Jerry Reichow, myself and Jim Finks drafted from his hospital room on the telephone."

After the Vikings had drafted Jones and Washington, Minneapolis Star sports columnist Dick Cullum wrote that Grant gushed: "Things are going well for the Vikings. Sit tight for a few minutes. Something else may develop."

Not long after, the San Diego Chargers selected defensive tackle Ron Billingsley (6-8, 258) of Wyoming with the 14th pick. "Ron Billingsley!" Grant exclaimed with a big grin before revealing that Billingsley wasn't ranked among their top four defensive linemen. Promptly, the Vikings swung their trade with the Rams and grabbed Page.

Grant on Page (Minneapolis Star, March 15, 1967): "He was one of the best four (defensive linemen) and I don't mean he was fourth. I only say he was one of the four standouts. … I don't know where he'll play for us. We need pressure (on the quarterback) from the inside of our defensive line. We'll have to see if Page can give it to us, or maybe move Carl Eller to tackle."

Finks (Christl interview, 1983): "Page should have been the guy taken first. We got lucky as hell with Page."

Page played 15 seasons at defensive tackle and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. Billingsley played four years with San Diego, demanded to be traded and played in only 17 more games with the Oilers. Page was credited with 148½ career sacks; Billingsley with eight in six seasons.

QBs: Steve Spurrier wins the draft; Bob Griese wins two Super Bowls

As part of the merger agreement, the Giants were given the option of exercising the first pick in either the 1967 or '68 draft for the purpose of taking a quarterback or trading that selection for a veteran quarterback.

Thus, the first round of the draft hinged on the Giants' decision. They desperately needed a quarterback and their head coach, Allie Sherman, wasted no time after the season ended to study the two top prospects at the position: Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier (6-2, 198) of Florida and Heisman runner-up Bob Griese (6-1, 184) of Purdue.

First, Sherman, a former NFL quarterback himself, studied Spurrier who was highly recommended by Douglas "Peahead" Walker, the Giants scout assigned to evaluate Spurrier that fall. Next, Sherman went to Pasadena to observe Griese prepare for the Rose Bowl. From there, Sherman traveled to Hawaii, where both quarterbacks played in the Hula Bowl.

In the Rose Bowl, Sherman got to see Griese lead Purdue to a 14-13 victory over Southern Cal, but also finish with modest stats: 10 completions in 18 attempts for 139 yards. What Sherman missed was Spurrier's off day in the Orange Bowl. Despite Florida's 27-12 victory over Georgia Tech, Spurrier connected on just 13 of 40 passes for 160 yards with one interception.

Less than a week later in Honolulu, Sherman was an eyewitness to Griese completing 14 of 21 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns, while Spurrier hit on 17 of 32 for 281 yards and one TD. "I felt both quarterbacks were superb," Sherman said after the game.

Nevertheless, a week before the draft, the Giants decided to pass on both prospects and acquired veteran quarterback Fran Tarkenton from Minnesota. The Giants gave the Vikings the second pick in the draft as a result of their league worst 1-12-1 record and also the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 draft that was part of the merger agreement.

That meant New Orleans, as an expansion franchise, was assured of owning the No. 1 choice in the 1967 draft, rather than the second. And that resulted in the Saints swapping it to the Colts for John Unitas' backup Gary Cuozzo.

When the Colts and Vikings opened the draft by picking Michigan State's Smith and Jones, San Francisco quickly sealed a deal with Atlanta for the third choice and took Spurrier. Miami, at No. 4, then drafted Griese.

Clearly, at least some teams had reservations about both quarterbacks. Or at least were uncertain about which one stood out.

Detroit director of player personnel Russ Thomas (Newspaper Enterprise Association, Jan. 1, 1967): "Our scouts have a point system for rating players. Spurrier and Griese come out equal."

Former University of Wisconsin quarterback and newly named head coach John Coatta (Evansville Courier, Dec. 31, 1966): "Griese's the best quarterback I've seen this year. But, on the other hand, I coached against Spurrier when he was a sophomore at Florida and I was at Florida State. They're very much alike."

Peahead Walker on Spurrier (New York Daily News, Dec. 25, 1966): "He's the best, no doubt about it. He's better than Bob Griese of Purdue and some others I've seen. Steve is a lot like Unitas, he plays his best under fire. He never loses his poise. I think he's as good as (Joe) Namath was in his senior year."

Kohl on Spurrier (1967 Orange Bowl Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Gets back quickly and has a quick release. Threw well just before the half and scattered it at other times but was generally unimpressive. Missed targets consistently. Also hung the ball up too long. Showed that he can throw hard once in a while, however. Must have had a bad night. Very disappointing performance. Will make an NFL squad and it will take time to develop him into a pro QB."

USC coach John McKay after facing Griese in the Rose Bowl (Associated Press, Jan. 3, 1967): "Griese has the fabulous ability to hit the open man. There aren't many better passers around."

Even Joe Thomas, Miami's director of player personnel, appeared to have been on the fence as to which quarterback he preferred.

The day of the draft he said he would have taken Spurrier for his second-year AFL expansion franchise if he had been available "for his drawing potential if nothing else." At the same time, Thomas said he was elated to have Griese because "there's hardly any difference between the versatility of Griese and Spurrier, and Griese is much quicker."

As time passed, Thomas insisted he wanted Griese all along. He told Associated Press' Mike Rathet that in 1972 and repeated it again seven years later.

Joe Thomas (Christl interview, Feb. 28, 1979): "I was going to take Griese over Spurrier, despite Spurrier being a Florida boy. … (We) were fortunate that San Francisco made a trade with Atlanta right ahead of us and took Spurrier. That got me off the hook. (Griese) had a quick release. He was quick and mobile. I just liked him better. Again, it's a feel. In my mind, there was no question about it. Griese is a fine athlete. I already told the owner what I was going to do. I said be prepared for the shock. I know you're going to have to sell season tickets."

Mike Holovak, executive vice president of the Houston Oilers and head coach of the Boston Patriots in 1967, on Spurrier (Christl interview, circa early 1980s): "He didn't have the strongest arm. But he was smart, a good competitor."

Spurrier played 10 years in the NFL, nine with San Francisco and one with Tampa Bay, but only started 38 games and 12 of them were with the expansion Buccaneers in 1976. Griese played 14 years with Dolphins, won two Super Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.