Back before the NFL became the polished powerhouse we know today, the league's early years were defined by disorder — particularly when it came to signing players. Teams essentially competed in an open free-for-all, trying to outbid one another in fierce bidding wars. Wealthier franchises could simply outspend their rivals into submission, creating lopsided rosters and deeply unbalanced competition that bore little resemblance to the equitable structure fans enjoy in the modern era.
Something had to change, and the solution came from an unlikely spark of brilliance. Bert Bell, who would go on to become commissioner, proposed a revolutionary concept designed to even the playing field, tame the recruitment madness, and ultimately make games more enjoyable to watch. Rather than bidding on talent, teams would take turns selecting players through a structured draft — with the worst-performing teams choosing first. The franchise that ended the previous season in last place would get the top pick, the second-worst team would choose next, and so on, with the reigning champions selecting last. Once the draft concluded, teams would be free to make trades.
It all became reality on February 8, 1936, inside the Ritz-Carleton Hotel in Philadelphia, where the very first NFL draft took place — a truly landmark moment in professional football. Team representatives converged for this unprecedented event, and Jay Berwanger, the University of Chicago's first Heisman trophy winner, earned the distinction of being the first player ever drafted. He also became the first player traded during the draft, going from the Eagles to the Bears. As it turned out, though, Berwanger never suited up for an NFL game — the relatively modest salaries that football offered at the time couldn't compete with more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, and he walked away from the sport entirely.