List of Air Force Falcons in the NFL draft information
The following is a list of Air Force Falcons football players who have been selected in the National Football League Draft. As of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Falcons have had nine players picked by NFL teams, four of whom have played in a professional game.[1]
Until recently, the United States Air Force Academy required its cadets to serve in the Air Force upon graduating, and historically NFL teams have avoided selecting players from the school outside of the later rounds. For example, kicker Dave Lawson fell as far back as the 16th round in the 1976 NFL Draft to the New York Giants;[2] he briefly spent the 1977 preseason with the team via 23-day leave before being released.[3][4] In 1988, Dallas Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm described selecting service academy players as "just a gamble you take."[5] In the 1992 draft, the Houston Oilers selected Falcon kicker Joe Wood in the 12th round, with head coach Jack Pardee noting it was "no sure thing with Wood" in regards to his service;[6][7] Wood signed with the Oilers after being assigned to nearby Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, but a reassignment to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada ended his hopes of playing for Houston.[8] Graduates from the United States service academies are mandated to serve at least five years on active duty, though they can petition to move to reserve status after two years;[9] Air Force linebacker Steve Russ used such a request to join the Denver Broncos in 1997 after being selected by them in the 1995 NFL Draft.[10][11]
Wide receiver Ernie Jennings was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the tenth round of the 1971 draft, but had to serve four years before he could join the team;[12][13] he was cut without playing a game with the 49ers.[14] In 1988, defensive tackle Chad Hennings was seen as a potential first-round pick if it was not for his military obligations, which dropped him to the Cowboys in the 11th round;[15] after serving in the Gulf War, he went on to win three Super Bowls with the Cowboys.[16] Another Falcon who enjoyed NFL success was defensive end Bryce Fisher, who was picked by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 1999 draft; he fulfilled his obligations at Pope Field before joining the Bills, and later played in Super Bowl XL with the Seattle Seahawks.[17]
The most recent Air Force player to be selected is Defensive Tackle Jordan Jackson by the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted in 2022 (sixth round).
^"Air Force Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
^Miller, Norm (June 29, 1976). "Giants Kicker Aims at Dual Role". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Falk, Jonni (July 27, 1977). "Bill Kahl-Winter sidelined after emergency surgery". The Daily Register. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Miller, Norm (August 10, 1977). "Searching-for-QB Giants Cut 20, Including 4-Pick". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Halliburton, Suzanne (April 26, 1988). "Cowboys roll dice for Air Force lineman". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Riggs, Randy (April 28, 1992). "Haul of receivers redeems Oilers". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Oilers hope kicker Wood worth the wait". The Galveston Daily News. AP. May 5, 1992. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Air Force transfers Oiler signee". The Monitor. April 1, 1993. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Myers, Meghann (June 26, 2019). "Trump OKs letting academy athletes play pro sports". Military Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
^"Broncos take flier". Tampa Bay Times. April 24, 1995. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Spofford, Mike (November 15, 1997). "Russ special performer for Denver". Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Corona, Al (January 29, 1971). "49ers' Draft Is Versatile". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"49ers Sign Glenn Gaspard". Valley Morning Star. UPI. June 6, 1975. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Ernie Jennings Cut". San Mateo County Times. August 13, 1975. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"No rush on quarterbacks". Austin American-Statesman. AP. April 26, 1988. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Neumann, Thomas (November 25, 2015). "Where are they now? Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Chad Hennings". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
^Crouse, Karen (February 5, 2006). "Fisher Has Gone From Air Force to a Force on Defense for the Seahawks". The New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
and 28 Related for: List of Air Force Falcons in the NFL draft information
The 2022 NFLdraft was the 87th edition ofthe National Football League's annual draft and was held from April 28–30, 2022, at the Caesars Forum on the...
The 1971 NFLdraft was held January 28–29, 1971, at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York. The Boston Patriots, who did not officially change...
tackle who played for the Dallas Cowboys ofthe National Football League (NFL). He played college football for theAirForceFalcons, earning unanimous All-American...
The 1988 NFLdraft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the...
The 1976 NFLdraft was an annual player selection meeting held April 8–9, 1976, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York. Thedraft lasted 17...
The 2010 NFLdraft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. The 2010 draft...
during theNFLDraft every year. TMQ Team Nicknames Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia Football Nicknames: Over 7,400 Listed by Terry...
The American football team Atlanta Falcons was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1965 and joined theNFL Eastern Conference, with Norb Hecker as coach. They...
Packers Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Cardinals Rams Seahawks 49ers The 2015 NFL season was the 96th season inthe history ofthe National Football...
The 1987 AirForceFalcons football team represented the United States AirForce Academy inthe 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. TheFalcons offense...
played college football for the Boise State Broncos, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys inthe first round ofthe 2018 NFLdraft, for whom he spent his...
Garland played for theAirForceFalcons from 2006 to 2009. He totaled 115 tackles, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks in 39 career games...
The 1991 AirForceFalcons football team represented the United States AirForce Academy inthe 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. Inthe Ram–Falcon...
won the Archie Griffin Award as a freshman, and was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falconsinthe 2001 NFLdraft. During his six years with the Falcons...
Buccaneers Falcons Rams Saints 49ers Panthers The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season ofthe National Football League (NFL). The league expanded...
in the sixth round of the 2000 NFLdraft, later earning him a reputation as theNFL's biggest draft steal. He became the starting quarterback during his...
second round ofthe 2018 NFLdraft. Chubb has been named to four Pro Bowls during his NFL career. Chubb attended Cedartown High School in Cedartown, Georgia...
linebacker for theAirForceFalcons before being drafted by the Denver Broncos inthe seventh round ofthe 1995 NFLDraft. He also played for the Los Angeles...
Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Cardinals Rams Seahawks 49ers The 2012 NFL season was the 93rd season ofthe National Football League (NFL) and...
The 1970 AirForceFalcons football team represented the United States AirForce Academy as an independent during the 1970 NCAA University Division football...
overall by the Los Angeles Rams inthe 2016 NFLdraft. After an unsuccessful rookie season, Goff rebounded in his second year when he helped lead the Rams to...
Packers Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Cardinals Rams Seahawks 49ers The 2014 NFL season was the 95th season inthe history ofthe National Football...
type of brain damage that has been found in 345 of 376 deceased former National Football League (NFL) players, according to a 2023 report by the Boston...