Golden Draft of '57

The 1957 NFL Draft, a pivotal event in professional football history, was held over two sessions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first four rounds took place on November 26, 1956, at the Warwick Hotel, with the remaining twenty-six rounds concluding on January 31, 1957, at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. This draft is widely regarded as one of the most talent-rich in NFL history, producing an astonishing number of future legends.

The first ten selections of the 1957 NFL Draft were:

✦ Green Bay Packers: Paul Hornung, Halfback, Notre Dame

✦ Los Angeles Rams: Jon Arnett, Halfback, USC

✦ San Francisco 49ers: John Brodie, Quarterback, Stanford

✦ Green Bay Packers: Ron Kramer, End, Michigan

✦ Pittsburgh Steelers: Len Dawson, Quarterback, Purdue

✦ Cleveland Browns: Jim Brown, Fullback, Syracuse

✦ Philadelphia Eagles: Clarence Peaks, Fullback, Michigan State

✦ Baltimore Colts: Jim Parker, Guard, Ohio State

✦ Washington Redskins: Don Bosseler, Fullback, Miami (FL)

✦ Chicago Cardinals: Jerry Tubbs, Center, Oklahoma

Remarkably, this draft class yielded an incredible nine Pro Football Hall of Famers, with four of them coming in the top 10 alone:

✦ Paul Hornung (1st overall pick, Green Bay Packers) - Pro Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer.

✦ Len Dawson (5th overall pick, Pittsburgh Steelers) - Pro Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer.

✦ Jim Brown (6th overall pick, Cleveland Browns) - Pro Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer.

✦ Jim Parker (8th overall pick, Baltimore Colts) - Pro Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer.

Beyond the top 10, other notable Hall of Famers from this draft included:

✦ Tommy McDonald (31st overall pick to the Eagles),
• Sonny Jurgensen (43rd overall pick to the Eagles), and
• Henry Jordan (52nd overall pick to the Browns), solidifying the 1957 draft's place as a cornerstone in building future NFL dynasties.

Prepare to explore the incredible career of Ronald John "Ron" Kramer, a multi-sport phenom whose impact on football, particularly at the tight end position, was nothing short of revolutionary. Born on June 24, 1935, in Girard, Kansas, Kramer's journey from an all-state Michigan athlete to a pillar of Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers dynasty is a testament to his rare blend of size, speed, and fierce determination.

This series will delve into how Kramer, often considered the prototype for the modern tight end, combined elite blocking prowess with game-changing receiving skills. From his dominant collegiate days as a nine-time letterman at the University of Michigan to his vital role in the Packers' NFL Championships, we'll uncover the full story of this College Football Hall of Famer and NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team selection.