The 1949 National Football League Draft was held on December 21, 1948, at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. The draft was preceded by a secret draft meeting held November 15, 1948, at the Hotel Schenley in Pittsburgh.
This was the third year that the first overall pick was a bonus pick determined by lottery, with the previous two winners (Chicago Bears in 1947 and Washington Redskins in 1948) ineligible from the draw; it was won by the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected center/linebacker Chuck Bednarik.
Player selections
Round one
Round two
Round three
Round four
Round five
Round six
Round seven
Round eight
Round nine
Round ten
Round eleven
Round twelve
Round thirteen
Round fourteen
Round fifteen
Round sixteen
Round seventeen
Round eighteen
Round nineteen
Round twenty
Round twenty-one
Round twenty-two
Round twenty-three
Round twenty-four
Round twenty-five
Hall of Famers
Chuck Bednarik, center from the University of Pennsylvania taken 1st round 1st overall by the Philadelphia Eagles. Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1967. Norm Van Brocklin, quarterback from the University of Oregon taken 4th round 37th overall by the Los Angeles Rams. Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1971. George Blanda, quarterback from the University of Kentucky taken 12th round 119th overall by the Chicago Bears. Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1981. Doak Walker, halfback from Southern Methodist University taken 1st round 3rd overall by the Boston Yanks. Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1986. Jim Finks, quarterback from Tulsa taken 12th round 116th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Inducted: For his achievements as an Executive Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1995. Although not an inductee, Wallace Triplett's photograph hangs in the Hall of Fame in recognition of his being the first African-American to be drafted by and play for a National Football League team.