February 8th this day in NY Jets history

Not jets history, but NFL history nonetheless. 79 years ago today, on February 8, 1936, the NFL held its first draft.

With the first pick, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jay Berwanger, HB from University of Chicago. Not only was he the first draft pick in NFL history, a year earlier, he was awarded the Downtown Athletic Club's first trophy (which was not yet named the Heisman) as college football's most outstanding player. Berwanger never played a down in the NFL. The Eagles traded his rights to the Bears rather than meet his contract demands. When he could not agree to a contract with George Halas & the Bears, he decided to get a real job and a part-time coaching gig at Univ of Chicago.