| 1981 NFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | April 28–29, 1981 |
| Location | New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City |
| Network(s) | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 332 total selections in 12 rounds | |
| League | NFL |
| First selection | George Rogers, RB New Orleans Saints |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Phil Nelson, TE Oakland Raiders |
| Most selections (17) | New Orleans Saints |
| Fewest selections (8) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Hall of Famers | 8 |
The 1981 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 28–29, 1981, at the New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City.[1][2] The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season.
For the first time, the top two picks of the draft, running back George Rogers selected by the New Orleans Saints and linebacker Lawrence Taylor picked by the New York Giants, were named Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, respectively.