| 1966 AFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | November 27, 1965 |
| Overview | |
| 180 (regular draft) + 99 (Red Shirt draft) total selections in 20 (regular draft) + 11 (Red Shirt draft) rounds | |
| League | AFL |
| First selection | Jim Grabowski, RB Miami Dolphins |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Ken McLean, E Buffalo Bills |
| Most selections (24) | New York Jets |
| Fewest selections (18) | Boston Patriots Oakland Raiders |
| Hall of Famers | 2 (1 of Red Shirt draft) |
The 1966 American Football League draft was held on Saturday, November 27, 1965.[1][2] The AFL added the Miami Dolphins as an expansion team in 1966 to bring its total to nine franchises for its seventh season. The Dolphins were awarded the first overall pick in the draft, who used it to select running back Jim Grabowski. The only Hall of Famer to come out of this draft was kicker Jan Stenerud, who was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the Red Shirt portion of the draft.
This was the last competitive draft of the American Football League before the AFL–NFL merger agreement, which was announced in June 1966.[3][4][5] The next draft of college players in 1967 was a common draft, held in mid-March.
The 1966 NFL draft was held the same day, November 27, 1965.[1]
- ^ a b "Texas grid star 1st duplication". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. November 27, 1965. p. 8.
- ^ "Nobis, Grabowski top picks as pros tap college talent". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. November 28, 1965. p. E3.
- ^ "How merger will operate". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. June 9, 1966. p. 4, part 2.
- ^ "How NFL, AFL will run from single wing". Miami News. Associated Press. June 9, 1966. p. 16A.
- ^ Schramm, Tex (June 20, 1966). "Here's how it happened". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.