| 1980 NFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | April 29–30, 1980 |
| Location | New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City, NY |
| Network(s) | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 333 total selections in 12 rounds | |
| League | NFL |
| First selection | Billy Sims, RB Detroit Lions |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Tyrone McGriff, G Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Most selections (15) | New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Fewest selections (8) | Washington Redskins |
| Hall of Famers | |
The 1980 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980, at the New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City, New York.[1][2] The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Detroit Lions selected running back Billy Sims.
This draft is notable as the first that the nascent ESPN network (which had first gone on the air seven months earlier) aired in its entirety, and the first to be televised.