By Darin The 1947 NFL Draft, held on December 16, 1946, continued the fierce and expensive rivalry with the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Unlike the previous year, the NFL felt the full sting of the talent war, as many of the best collegiate prospects—lured by the AAFC’s financial guarantees—chose the upstart league instead. The result was a fascinating, 30-round gamble for the future of NFL History. From the controversial first overall pick to the lower-round sleepers who defied the odds, this draft class tells a powerful story of competitive sabotage and the scarcity of immediate superstar talent, a pivotal moment in the league’s post-war trajectory.
The Cost of Competition: A Talent Drain
The 1947 draft was a defensive move by the NFL. With the AAFC operating at full capacity and offering contracts that often outmatched the established league, the NFL saw its top choices jump ship. The Chicago Bears, holding the first overall pick, selected Oklahoma A&M halfback Bob Fenimore, a two-time All-American. Fenimore’s career was ultimately cut short by injury, a fate common to many players in this era, making his selection emblematic of the instability of the time.
The draft extended to 30 rounds and covered 250 players, highlighting the NFL’s desperation to secure any available talent. At the same time, few immediate Hall of Fame talents emerged from the early rounds for the NFL.
Top Ten Selections of the 1947 NFL Draft
| Pick | Tm | Player | Pos | College/Univ |
| 1 | CHI | Bob Fenimore | HB | Oklahoma St. |
| 2 | DET | Glenn Davis | HB | Army |
| 3 | BOS | Fritz Barzilauskas | G | Yale |
| 4 | WAS | Cal Rossi | B | UCLA |
| 5 | PIT | Hub Bechtol | E | Texas Tech |
| 6 | GNB | Ernie Case | QB | UCLA |
| 7 | CRD | Tex Coulter | T | Army |
| 8 | PHI | Neill Armstrong | E | Oklahoma St. |
| 9 | RAM | Herm Wedemeyer | B | St. Mary’s (CA) |
| 10 | NYG | Vic Schwall | HB | Northwestern |
| 11 | CHI | Don Kindt | DB | Wisconsin |
Hall of Fame Players Selected
The 1947 NFL Draft is often considered light on Hall of Fame production compared to rival drafts, primarily due to the AAFC successfully poaching many top prospects. However, the class produced one definitive, long-term Hall of Fame figure who established his legacy in the NFL:
Conclusion
The 1947 NFL Draft serves as a fascinating historical record, demonstrating the high-stakes battle for talent that defined the post-war era. While the AAFC often claimed the headlines with its signings, the NFL quietly secured players who would become instrumental figures in the league’s future. The eventual emergence of stars like Dante Lavelli, Art Donovan, and Tom Landry ensured that this draft class, though initially marred by outside competition, remains a foundational chapter in NFL History.
