1966 NFL expansion draft

Selection of players by the Atlanta Falcons July 2026 March 2023 1966 NFL expansion draft American football February 15, 1966 NFL 1961 1967 Atlanta Falcons 1966 The 1966 NFL expansion draft was a National Football League (NFL) draft in which a new expansion team, named the Atlanta Falcons, selected its first players. On June 30, 1965, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle awarded the first NFL franchise in the Deep South to the city of Atlanta and granted ownership to Rankin Smith Sr.1966 NFL Draft http://www.profootballhof.com/history/story.jsp?story_id=1998 https://web.archive.org/web/20071208234646/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/story.jsp?story_id=1998 December 8, 2007 September 27, 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame So that the Falcons could become competitive with existing teams, the league awarded the Falcons the first pick in the 1966 NFL draft, supplemented with the final pick in the first five rounds. The NFL also gave the new team the opportunity to select current players from existing teams. That selection was provided by the expansion draft, held on February 15, 1966. In this draft, held six weeks after the regular draft, the existing franchises listed players from which the Falcons could select to switch to the new team. Each of the 14 established teams froze 29 players on their 40-man rosters that opened the 1965 season (That made 154 players available.). Atlanta picked one of the 11 and then each team froze two more. Atlanta was able to select two more for a total of 42 players chosen. The Falcons paid $8.5 million for the franchise. (February 17, 1966 St. Petersburg Times.) Player selections Player Position College team Original NFL teamRoger AndersonDTVirginia UnionNew York GiantsLarry BenzSNorthwesternCleveland BrownsLee CallandDBLouisvilleMinnesota VikingsDennis ClaridgeQBNebraskaGreen Bay PackersJunior CoffeyFBWashingtonGreen Bay PackersEd CookOGNotre DameSt. Louis CardinalsDave CrossanCMarylandWashington RedskinsPerry Lee DunnRBMississippiDallas CowboysBobby FranklinSMississippiCleveland BrownsDan GrimmOGColoradoGreen Bay PackersAlex HawkinsWRSouth CarolinaBaltimore ColtsRalph HeckLBColoradoPhiladelphia EaglesBob JencksTE- PKMiami (OH)Washington RedskinsBill JobkoLBOhio StateMinnesota VikingsRudy JohnsonHBNebraskaSan Francisco 49ersFrank LaskyOTFloridaNew York GiantsDanny LewisFBWisconsinWashington RedskinsErrol LindenOTHoustonMinnesota VikingsBill (Red) MackTE-WRNotre DamePittsburgh SteelersFrank MarchlewskiCMinnesotaLos Angeles RamsBilly MartinTEGeorgia TechChicago BearsDale MemmelaarOGWyomingCleveland BrownsDale MesserFLFresno StateSan Francisco 49ersMax MessnerLBCincinnatiPittsburgh SteelersDennis MurphyDTFloridaChicago BearsNeal PettiesSESan Diego StateBaltimore ColtsTim PowellDENorthwesternLos Angeles RamsDave RecherCIowaPhiladelphia EaglesGuy ReeseOTSMUBaltimore ColtsBob RichardsDELSUPhiladelphia EaglesJerry RichardsonDBWest Texas StateLos Angeles RamsMarion RushingLBSouthern IllinoisSt. Louis CardinalsBob ShermanDBIowaPittsburgh SteelersChuck SieminskiDTPenn StateSan Francisco 49ersCarl SilvestriDBWisconsinSt. Louis CardinalsJim SimonOG-TMiamiDetroit LionsRon SmithDBWisconsinChicago BearsDon TalbertOTTexasDallas CowboysErnie WheelwrightFBSouthern IllinoisNew York GiantsBob WhitlowCArizonaDetroit LionsSam WilliamsDEMichigan StateDetroit LionsMaury YoumansDESyracuseDallas Cowboys See also Pro Football Hall of Fame – 1966 Draft https://web.archive.org/web/20081201054226/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1966.jsp December 1, 2008 Dbasefootball – 1966 Draft 1966 American Football League draft References External links Atlanta Falcons 1966 Fact Book (page 14). Category:NFL expansion draft Expansion Category:Atlanta Falcons lists