1971 NFL Draft: Oral History – QBs go 1, 2, 3 for first time 

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.

1971

The 36th NFL Draft was held over two days, Jan. 28-29, 1971, with the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York serving as headquarters.

The selections started at 10:02 a.m. (EST) the first day and ended at 9:39 p.m., following the seventh round. The draft resumed at 10 a.m. on the 29th and wrapped up at 6:35 p.m. The entire 17 rounds took 20 hours, 12 minutes to complete.

"Year of the Quarterback"

In the weeks leading up to the draft, it was dubbed "The Year of the Quarterback" by both those inside the game and sportswriters who were beginning to pay increasingly more attention to the event.

Once before there had been four T-formation quarterbacks taken in the first round out of 13 picks. In 1952, Bill Wade of Vanderbilt, Babe Parilli of Kentucky, Larry Isbell of Baylor and Harry Agganis of Boston University were drafted first, fourth, seventh and 12^th, respectively.

Two years later, there also were four players drafted and projected as T quarterbacks, including Lamar McHan, a single-wing tailback at Arkansas, by the Chicago Cardinals. Bobby Garrett of Stanford and McHan were taken one and two, followed by fifth-pick Cotton Davidson of Baylor and the 11^th choice, Bernie Faloney of Maryland.

But 1971 marked the first time three quarterbacks were given the call to start the draft. In order, the then Boston Patriots chose Jim Plunkett of Stanford; New Orleans, Archie Manning of Mississippi; and the Houston Oilers, Dan Pastorini of Santa Clara.

As a footnote, 20 days after the draft, the Patriots' board of directors voted to change the team's name to Bay State Patriots, only to learn NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle disapproved, leading to a second change to New England Patriots.

In all, 23 quarterbacks were drafted in 1971, including Lynn Dickey, who was expected to be a No. 1 pick but lasted until the third round.

Miami's Don Shula, who had just finished his 11^th season as a coach (United Press International, Jan. 7, 1971): "They say that this is the year of the quarterbacks, and I agree. There are certainly more top-drawer quarterbacks available than I can recall."

Dallas vice president personnel development Gil Brandt (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jan. 6, 1971): "The draft has become an odd thing: Everybody has become so quarterback conscious. Five quarterbacks could go in the first round."

Cincinnati offensive backfield coach Jack Donaldson (Dayton Journal Herald, Jan. 23, 1971): "The first three, or maybe four (picks). I'd say Plunkett, Manning and Pastorini. And the fourth might be Lynn Dickey of Kansas State."

The dope on Plunkett, Manning & Pastorini

Here was the lowdown on the top three quarterbacks.

Plunkett (6-2½, 212):

San Diego Chargers head coach Sid Gillman (Boston Globe, Jan. 24, 1971): "Jim Plunkett is exciting. He's a big, beautiful football player with a mind. You don't go to Stanford unless you have a mind. That boy has the poise of an old pro. He's ready to play pro football. He's had great coaching at Stanford and he's played in the pro system. There's no guess work with Plunkett. You know he can drop back and pass. You don't know that about these other quarterbacks. They all sprint and throw. When you get them, it takes you time to train them."

Kansas City head coach Hank Stram (Boston Globe, Jan. 24, 1971): "There's no doubt that (Plunkett's) the best prospect in the country. I love his size. … I've studied films of Plunkett, and I can tell from watching him that he understands right now what the pro passing game is. You never find this in a college quarterback. You get them and teach them how to read defenses, and check off. This kid does it already."

Baltimore Colts general manager Don Klosterman (Boston Globe, Jan. 24, 1971): "Jim Plunkett can come into pro football and be ready to play immediately. … Some say he doesn't have quick hands or feet, but he has them when the game starts. In our opinion, he's the best football player in the country."

Manning (6-3, 205):

New Orleans director of player personnel Henry Lee Parker (Birmingham News, Jan. 6, 1970): "He's the best quarterback I've ever seen in my life. He may be the best that ever played the game. He has height, speed, everything it takes."

BLESTO-V scout Will Walls (Oct. 5, 1970 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Will probably be an outstanding quarterback in the pro ranks. Has a quiet leadership quality. Teammates respect him greatly. Needs to settle down and not press, and not think that he has to do it all for the ball club to be successful."

Brandt (Sports Illustrated, Feb. 15, 1971): "Manning is probably the best athlete of the three … he's got 4.7 speed in the 40, which is exceptional for a quarterback. And he's a terrific passer. … Manning's a tough kid who has overcome a lot; his dad committed suicide, for one. In his sophomore year he played with cracked ribs and this year he came back and played with his left arm in a cast. In the Hula Bowl, operating an offense he didn't know, throwing to strange receivers and hurting, he completed 20 out of 33 and had two dropped on him. He'll have to learn to stay in the pocket, though. But I think he has a chance to be better than Plunkett. Plunkett played a pro-type offense at Stanford and he's very, very good, but I don't think he'll improve as much since he's already attained a good deal of his potential."

Pastorini (6-2½, 220):

Parker (Shreveport Journal, Jan. 8, 1971): "(Pastorini) is an outstanding quarterback, a Roman Gabriel type. It's a long way from Santa Clara to the NFL, but he has a good chance of going in the first round."

Baltimore Colts director of player personnel Upton Bell (Baltimore Evening Sun, Jan. 27, 1971): "I love Pastorini. He throws the ball as well as (Terry) Bradshaw, and he's a great kicker, even though he's never really worked at it."

Brandt (Sports Illustrated, Feb. 15, 1971): "Pastorini's a fine athlete. And he's an exceptional ball handler, better than Manning or Plunkett, which could be useful on play-action passes. But he missed five games last year with a knee injury and he's been hurt before. He has one thing over the others, though – he can punt and placekick, so you save two specialists with him. On the other hand, Santa Clara's competition wasn't much – Humboldt State, Lewis & Clark. Against Humboldt State, he was 10 of 12 for 188 yards and four touchdowns. But Humboldt State isn't Green Bay."

Inside the draft rooms on draft day

On draft day, the Patriots, despite receiving what they said were 17 offers for the No. 1 pick, kept the choice.

Patriots president Billy Sullivan (Hartford Courant, Jan. 29, 1971): "Before the Rose Bowl we felt the best bet was to trade to strengthen our team at several positions, but after the game we had some misgivings. We came to the conclusion that unless we got something we wanted rather than what somebody wanted to give us, we would go for Plunkett."

Patriots head coach John Mazur (Boston Globe, Jan. 29, 1971): "In my own mind, Plunkett is the best football player available. A Plunkett comes along once in a long, long time. He has that special magnetism. Bobby Orr has it, Joe Namath has it."

Vic Schwenk, general manager of the Saints, spent a nervous day before the draft sitting by a telephone fretting that he might get a call telling him Atlanta had acquired the Patriots' choice. The Saints coveted Manning, not Plunkett.

That was Manning's hope, as well. Having been previously selected by the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball's draft, he said in a television interview on the eve of the NFL draft that if he was taken by a cold-weather team he might choose baseball over football. Manning named only three teams on his wish list: New Orleans, Atlanta or Dallas.

Schwenk (Greenwood Commonwealth, Jan. 27, 1971): "We definitely want Manning. Not because he's from down here in the South, but because we think he's the best quarterback available this year. … We believe Archie is better in about three areas than Plunkett. He runs better, he passes better, and he thinks better."

Schwenk (Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Jan. 29, 1971): "We stayed in almost constant touch with Boston. If the Falcons had worked out some deal to get Boston's first pick, we would have been able to make a counteroffer before the deal was finalized."

Although the Oilers were without a head coach following Wally Lemm's end-of-season resignation, general manager John Breen and chief scout Charley Hall were not going to pass on a quarterback.

Breen, who was a former coach and athletic director at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha Freeman, May 29, 1971): "I predict (Pastorini) will be a sensation in two years, and I think he'll beat out Plunkett and Manning for the starting quarterback position in the College All-Star Game. He's got an exciting arm. If he started throwing in the park, he'd stop traffic."

The cat-and-mouse game to land Ken Anderson

Without another QB being drafted between the third and 56^th overall choices, demand kicked in again for the remainder of the third round. Dickey went 56^th to the Oilers; Duke's Leo Hart, 59^th to Atlanta; Ken Anderson, 67^th to Cincinnati; and Texas A&I's Karl Douglas, 78^th to the Colts.

In the fourth round, Miami chose Notre Dame's Joe Theismann; and in the sixth round, Green Bay took Alabama's Scott Hunter, who had started ahead of Hart for the South in the Senior Bowl.

Among those nine quarterbacks, the one NFL personnel people had been tight lipped about was Anderson, who played at Augustana College, a school of roughly 2,000 students located in Rock Island, Ill. Playing in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin against the likes of Carthage, Millikin and Elmhurst, Anderson had passed for 6,131 yards, 48 touchdowns and ran for another 21 – all glittering numbers – over four seasons.

In the end, he dictated to a degree where the other QBs were drafted and arguably turned out to be the best of the draft crop.

On Christmas Day 1970, Dickey and Anderson were the quarterbacks for the North squad in North-South Shrine All-Star Game played in Miami's Orange Bowl. Dickey started, led the North to a 28-7 victory and was named MVP. He led the North to its first 21 points over the first three quarters, completing 14 of 27 passes for 180 yards. Anderson was 8 of 20 for 77 yards

Then came the Senior Bowl, played Jan. 9, 1971, less than three weeks before the draft.

When Dickey arrived in Mobile, he immediately made a favorable impression on Denver's Lou Saban, who was his coach for the North squad. "We've got two great quarterbacks (Pastorini and Dickey)," said Saban. "They can really throw the ball."

But Dickey developed a sore arm in practice and made just a cameo appearance in the game, throwing one pass, which was intercepted and returned 41 yards for a touchdown. Pastorini, in turn, led the North to a 31-13 victory.

While his Senior Bowl experience might have blown Dickey's chances of being drafted in the first round, Anderson was uninvited and unhurt by it. No doubt, scouts had taken notice when he ran a 4.8 40-yard dash on timing day at the North-South game, reportedly beating Dickey by three steps.

Plus, by then, it probably wasn't any secret that Cincinnati assistant coach and quarterback guru Bill Walsh had been hot on Anderson's tail since fall.

Two years earlier, the Bengals had selected quarterback Greg Cook of the University of Cincinnati fifth overall. That season, Cook was named the American Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the league in passing, despite suffering an injury to his right shoulder in the third game.

Then, during an offseason basketball game, Cook reinjured his shoulder, underwent surgery in August and missed the entire 1970 season. The Bengals were hoping that Cook would fully recover but also were looking to protect themselves.

On Oct. 10, 1970, the day before the Bengals played the rival Browns in Cleveland, Walsh traveled to Waukesha to watch Anderson face Carroll College. Augustana lost, 31-14, but Walsh saw plenty of the one player he was there to see. Anderson threw 58 passes and completed 25 for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

Evidently, in Walsh's eyes, Anderson was more impressive than his numbers. Thereafter, Anderson became the Bengals' safety net if Cook didn't recover. However, they would have to play their cards right to get him at the right time.

Augustana coach Ben Newcomb (Moline Daily Dispatch, Jan. 27, 1971): "It's just unbelievable the demand we've had for film of Kenny's games. He didn't play at all in our last two games (with a sprained ankle), and he played only briefly in our Carthage game, so our supply of film on Kenny is pretty limited. … Dallas has contacted him. Cincinnati sent a man in Monday, and Green Bay had a coach here talking to him Friday. Atlanta and Denver have both been in contact with him. I'd say that Cincinnati has shown the most interest in Ken. They're not sure about the condition of Greg Cook's arm after surgery last fall."

Doug Hafner, Cincinnati's assistant director of player personnel and future Packers player personnel director (Christl interview, Oct. 28, 1978): "Everybody knew about Ken Anderson. That wasn't a mystery selection. All the combines had evaluated him. Most of the clubs had been in to see him because he had a make-it grade. He wasn't a sleeper or anything. That's one of those things where they grade him and say, 'He'll be there in the seventh round.' It goes back to if you recognize this guy is going to be a great player, you don't sit there and wait for the seventh round."

Fast forward to draft day. By then, Walsh had drawn two conclusions. One, he preferred Anderson to Dickey. Two, he felt confident no other team would take Anderson over Dickey because of his small-school background.

Thus, the Bengals' game plan on draft day was to wait until Dickey was selected before pouncing on Anderson (6-2, 205).

Walsh (Rock Island Argus, Feb. 2, 1971): "There was every possibility that we'd draft (Anderson) in the first round. It just depended on how the other quarterbacks went. When Dickey didn't go in the first round, we thought we had a cushion between Ken and the rest of the league. We watched the way things went carefully. He's the man we wanted, but we felt as long as Dickey wasn't taken, Ken would be available."

Bengals head coach Paul Brown (Dayton Journal Herald, Jan. 29, 1971): "(Anderson) played against poor competition, but he's built in the Greg Cook style. Outside of the first three quarterbacks, this was the quarterback we wanted. We were holding our breath for fear that he'd go in the first two rounds. We gambled that he'd still be around."

It almost cost them.

Brown said the Bengals debated over taking Anderson in the second round even though Dickey hadn't been drafted yet and decided to pass. Lucky for them, Anderson wasn't snatched up by Atlanta after Dickey was selected 56^th overall and before the Bengals' pick at No. 67.

The Falcons, who owned the 59^th choice, debated over Hart and Anderson but took Hart. "It was that close (between the two)," Falcons coach Norm Van Brocklin said, holding his fingers slightly apart, after making their choice.

Future Pro Football Hall of Fame general manager Bobby Beathard, then Atlanta's West Coast scout (Wall Street Journal, April 27, 1982): "I remember we thought Kenny Anderson was going to be a great quarterback. But instead, we took Leo Hart because he was from Duke."

Hart spent his rookie year on the Falcons' taxi squad, got cut the next season and appeared in only three NFL games over a two-year career.

Among the eight quarterbacks taken over the first four rounds, only Plunkett and 99^th overall choice Joe Theismann of Notre Dame won Super Bowls, although not with the teams that drafted them.

Plunkett won two with the Oakland Raiders: Super Bowl XV, when he was named the game's MVP, and again in XVIII. Theismann, who was drafted by Miami, won Super Bowl XVII and was on the losing side in XVIII. Anderson also was on the losing side in Super Bowl XVI.

Arguably, Anderson turned out to be the best of the eight. He played the most seasons, 16, and started for 13 seasons, more than any of the others.

Theismann, who played 12 years with Washington, had the best regular-season winning percentage as a starter with a .621 mark. Anderson was the only other long-term starter to have a winning record at a .529 clip.

Anderson in 1981 and Theismann in 1983 were named the league's MVP by AP. Both also were named AP All-Pro those seasons. None of the others ever received that honor. Anderson was named to four Pro Bowls. The only others to be named were Manning and Theismann, twice; and Pastorini, once.

Statistically, Anderson finished with the highest passer rating, the most passing yards and the most touchdown passes.

Sometimes it takes years to pass judgment on picks

When fullbacks were still the workhouses for many NFL teams, John Riggins and John Brockington were drafted in the top 10. Riggins was chosen sixth overall by the New York Jets; Brockington, ninth by the Packers.

Three years later, it appeared the Packers had picked the plum of the two.

Brockington was the first back in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in his first three seasons. Riggins had yet to reach that standard. In 1971, Brockington was AP's Offensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro fullback. Riggins finished third behind Brockington in the rookie voting but otherwise had gone unrecognized. Brockington was a three-time Pro Bowl pick; Riggins had been shut out.

At that point, Brockington had rushed for 3,276 yards; Riggins for 2,195.

Twenty-one years later, Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brockington's career had fizzled out.

Brockington never rushed for 1,000 yards again after his third season. He lasted seven seasons and finished with 5,185 career rushing yards. Riggins surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his fifth season and did it four more times. He lasted 14 seasons and rushed for a total of 11,352 yards.

Here were the perspectives of scouts and coaches prior to the draft:

Brockington (6-1, 216):

Bell (Spring 1970 BLESTO-V Scouting Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Hard, strong runner with good speed and acceleration. A quick starter. Runs with feet close to ground and can really turn it on when he sees daylight. Lowers the shoulder and can make the tough yardage. Punishes tacklers. Can go outside. Good balance. Must learn to break for openings better in open field. … Did not get to play much in past, with experience he will get better."

Pittsburgh director of player personnel Art Rooney Jr. (Fall 1970 Scouting Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Strong straight-ahead runner with good leg power and second effort. Strength and balance are good. Hits a hole quick and hard. Breaks tackles. Durable. Showed a bit of burst of speed. He has the equipment and guts to develop into a good blocker. I did not see him go wide or cut because he was not called on to do these things."

BLESTO-V scout Lou Blumling (Fall 1970 Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Rough, tough, workhorse. Balance. Good blocker. Money player. Smells goal line. Can catch. Will block downfield. Could play either RB spot. Great pick and slash runner. Best fullback I have seen at Ohio State. All the tools. Needs pass protection work. No history of serious injuries."

Riggins (6-2, 237):

Donaldson (Dayton Journal Herald, Jan. 23, 1971): "The top big running back is Junior Riggins. He runs the 40 in 4.6. He's the best without a doubt. But there are a bunch of other ones: James Harrison (6-4, 238) of Missouri, Don McCauley (6-1, 208) of North Carolina, Brockington of Ohio State and Leon Burns (6-1, 228) of Long Beach State."

Walls (April 30, 1970 BLESTO-V Scouting Report, Pro Football Hall of Fame): "Plays baseball but is doubling up. Goes out for (spring) football after baseball practice. Can go outside as well as inside and is a fine blocker. Had great sophomore year, but not as good a junior year, because of a better ball club"

New York Jets coach Weeb Ewbank (Newark Star-Ledger, Jan. 29, 1971): "He has power inside and outside and can play halfback or fullback. He is an excellent blocker with good hands, and he is a breakaway threat. He turned in runs of 83, 65 and 56 yards at Kansas. He never missed a game or a practice, and he fumbled only once as a senior and he recovered that one himself. Riggins is more of an outside threat than Brockington. And also has the size – 237 compared to about 215 for Brockington."

Who needs the draft?

George Allen, recently hired as head coach in Washington after being fired by the Los Angeles Rams despite a five-year record of 49-19-4, traded seven draft choices to his old team shortly after the proceedings got started.

Allen swapped his first and third picks in 1970; his third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh choices in 1972; and veteran linebacker Marlin McKeever. In return, Allen acquired his starting linebacker corps from the Rams: Myron Pottios, Maxie Baughan and Jack Pardee; defensive tackle Diron Talbert; guard John Wilbur; running back Jeff Jordan; and a fifth-round pick.

Pardee would turn 35 and Baughan, 33, before the start of the season. Pottios was 32. The Rams used what was the 10^th choice in the draft to select linebacker Isiah Robertson of Southern University. Robertson would earn AP's Defensive Rookie of the Year award and be named to six Pro Bowls during his 12-year career.

Allen (Atlanta Constitution, Jan. 29, 1971): "The future is now. We want to win in 1971."