Mr. Irrelevant

Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to the person drafted with the final pick of an NFL draft. Most players drafted with the very last draft pick do not even end up playing in an actual NFL game, let alone go on to having successful careers in the NFL. Oftentimes, a player chosen with this pick is released from the team that drafted them before preseason or training camps begin. Some notable exceptions include Jacque MacKinnon, Ryan Succop, and Brock Purdy.

Brock Purdy was selected as Mr. Irrelevant in 2022.

Jim Finn, Mr. Irrelevant of the 1999 NFL draft, and Super Bowl XLII champion
Ryan Succop, Mr. Irrelevant of the 2009 NFL draft and Super Bowl LV champion

History

"Mr. Irrelevant" and "Irrelevant Week" began in 1976 when former USC and NFL receiver Paul Salata founded the event in Newport Beach, California. He announced the final pick of each NFL draft until 2013; from 2014 his daughter took over in announcing the pick. After each draft, the new Mr. Irrelevant and his family are invited to spend a week during the summer in Newport Beach. A trip to Disneyland, a golf tournament, a regatta, a roast giving advice to the new draftee, and a ceremony awarding him the Lowsman Trophy are included. The trophy mimics the Heisman Trophy but depicts a player fumbling a football.[1]

"Irrelevant Week" gave so much publicity to "Mr. Irrelevant" that in 1979 the Los Angeles Rams, with the penultimate pick, intentionally passed to let the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the last pick, choose first. The Steelers also wanted the publicity and passed as well. The two teams continued to refuse to choose a player until NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle forced the teams to pick, with the Steelers winning the pick. The incident led to the "Salata Rule", which prohibits teams from passing to get the final pick.[2]

The first Mr. Irrelevant to play in the Super Bowl was Marty Moore, a special teams player drafted last in 1994, who played with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.[3]

The first Mr. Irrelevant to make the Pro Bowl was Bill Fischer, who was the last pick in the 1948 NFL draft. He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals after his junior season at Notre Dame. He opted to stay in school, and won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman in 1948. The Cardinals drafted him again in 1949, this time with their first-round pick.

The last player chosen in the 1961 NFL draft, Jacque MacKinnon, had a successful 10-season career. However he signed with the San Diego Chargers of the rival American Football League instead of with the Philadelphia Eagles. He appeared in two AFL All-Star Games in 1966 and 1968. He was one of only two Mr. Irrelevants to appear in a Pro Bowl or the equivalent.

Prior to the establishment of Mr. Irrelevant, Jimmy Walker was the final pick in the 1967 NFL draft, despite never having played college football. His main sport, however, was basketball, in which he was a consensus All-American and the nation's leading scorer as a senior at Providence College. Walker was the first pick in the 1967 NBA draft, and opted for a career in the NBA.[4]

Notable selections

Since the NFL Draft was cut to its current seven-round format in 1994, players presented with this dubious honor have more often succeeded in making the team that drafted them, with some making significant contributions.

  • Tyrone McGriff was perhaps the most successful Mr. Irrelevant from the pre-1994 era. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the last pick of the 12th round in 1980. He made the 1980 NFL All-Rookie Team, and played two more seasons for the Steelers. In 1983, he moved on to the Michigan Panthers of the upstart United States Football League. He won a league championship ring that year, as well as a spot on the USFL All-Star Team.
  • John Tuggle started five games as a fullback his rookie year, and was named the 1983 New York Giants Special Teams Player of the Year. However, during the 1984 training camp, he was diagnosed with cancer. He never played again, and died in 1986.
  • Marty Moore, a special teams player, became the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI and first Mr. Irrelevant to win a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.[5]
  • Mike Green played a significant role in the Chicago Bears secondary in the 2000s, and played from 2000 to 2008.[6]
  • Jim Finn was on the roster as a fullback for the New York Giants on their victory in Super Bowl XLII. Prior to the 2007 season, Finn was placed on injured reserve and never played a game for the Giants on their road to the Super Bowl that year, having been replaced by Madison Hedgecock. He had been the Giants fullback for four seasons.[7]
  • Ryan Succop, the 2009 designee, became the starting kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs. He went on to tie the NFL record for highest field goal percentage by a rookie in a season with 86.2 percent, and also passed NFL Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud for most field goals made by a rookie in Chiefs history. Succop was awarded the Mack Lee Hill Award that year.[8] He has been a starting kicker since his rookie season. Succop moved on to the Tennessee Titans for the 2014 season and was signed to a contract extension in early 2018 before being released in March 2020 and signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in early September. He proceeded to win Super Bowl LV with the team, becoming the second Mr. Irrelevant to win an NFL championship, and first to play and win a Super Bowl as a starter and an active player.
  • Chad Kelly, the 2017 designee and former Ole Miss quarterback, is the nephew of former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. Drafted last largely because injury and discipline questions had lowered his previously high draft stock, Kelly progressed to become the Denver Broncos' second-string quarterback by the 2018 preseason before being released on October 24, 2018.[9] He later signed with the Indianapolis Colts.[10] After moving to the Canadian Football League, Kelly won the 109th Grey Cup in relief of Toronto Argonauts starting quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson.[11] The following season Kelly led the team to a 16–2 record before they lost in the playoffs to the eventual champions in Montreal. He was later awarded the CFL most outstanding player for that season.[12]
  • Brock Purdy, the 2022 designee, was propelled into the starting quarterback role for the San Francisco 49ers after injuries to the first- and second-string quarterbacks, Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. In his rookie season, Purdy became the only rookie quarterback to beat Tom Brady in a starting debut. Purdy became the first Mr. Irrelevant to complete a forward pass, a touchdown pass, and a rushing touchdown in the regular season.[13][14][15] He won all five games he started as San Francisco completed a 10-game winning streak to close out the season, after which he became the first Mr. Irrelevant quarterback to start and win in a playoff game. Purdy was ultimately named a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, finishing third place in voting. Purdy remained the starting quarterback in 2023, leading the 49ers to a 5–0 start, a repeat division title, and an appearance in Super Bowl LVIII, where he became the first Mr. Irrelevant to throw a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl, while setting a new single season franchise record for passing yards.[16][17][18][19] That season, he finished fourth place in MVP voting[20] and was named to his first Pro Bowl, becoming the first 49ers quarterback in two decades to earn the honor.[21] Purdy has been nicknamed "Mr. Relevant" for his immediate impact and rise to prominence.[22]

Mr. Irrelevant selections
Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position College Games
1936 9981 Phil Flanagan GiantsGHoly Cross2
1937 1010100 Solon Holt RamsGTCU0
1938 1210110 Ferd Dreher BearsEDenver3
1939 225200 Jack Rhodes GiantsGTexas0
1940 225200 Myron Claxton GiantsTWhittier0
1941 222204 Mort Landsberg SteelersBCornell17
1942 225200 Stu Clarkson BearsCTexas A&I75
1943 325300 Bo Bogovich RedskinsGDelaware0
1944 326330 Walton Roberts YanksBTexas0
1945 326330 Billy Joe Aldridge PackersBOklahoma A&M0
1946 325300 John West RamsBOklahoma0
1947 327300 Don Clayton GiantsBNorth Carolina0
1948 327300 Bill Fischer CardinalsGNotre Dame0
1949 2510251 John Schweder EaglesGPenn71
1950 3013391 Dud Parker EaglesBBaylor0
1951 3011362 Sisto Averno BrownsGMuhlenberg51
1952 3011360 John Saban BrownsBXavier0
1953 3011360 Hal Maus LionsEMontana0
1954 3011360 Ellis Horton LionsBEureka (IL)0
1955 3011360 Lamar Leachman BrownsCTennessee0
1956 3011360 Bob Bartholomew BrownsTWake Forest0
1957 3011360 Don Gest GiantsEWashington State0
1958 3011360 Tommy Bronson LionsBTennessee0
1959 3012360 Blair Weese ColtsBWest Virginia Tech0
1960 2012240 Bill Gorman GiantsTMcMurry0
1961 2014280 Jacque MacKinnon EaglesBColgate118
1962 2014280 Mike Snodgrass PackersCWestern Michigan0
1963 2014280 Bobby Brezina PackersBHouston1
1964 2014280 Dick Niglio BearsRBYale0
1965 2014280 George Haffner ColtsQBMcNeese State0
1966 2015305 Tom Carr ColtsTMorgan State4
1967 1726445 Jimmy Walker SaintsWRProvidence0
1968 1727462 Jimmy Smith BengalsTEJackson State0
1969 1726442 Fred Zirkle JetsDTDuke0
1970 1726442 Rayford Jenkins ChiefsDBAlcorn A&M0
1971[lower-alpha 1] 1726442 Charles Hill RaidersWRSam Houston State0
1972 1726442 Alphonso Cain CowboysDTBethune–Cookman0
1973 1726442 Charlie Wade DolphinsWRTennessee State21
1974 1726442 Ken Dickerson DolphinsDBTuskegee0
1975 1726442 Stan Hegener SteelersGNebraska0
1976 1728487 Kelvin Kirk SteelersWRDayton0
1977 1227335 Jim Kelleher VikingsRBColorado0
1978 1228334 Lee Washburn CowboysGMontana State0
1979 1227330 Mike Almond SteelersWRNorthwestern State0
1980 1228333 Tyrone McGriff SteelersGFlorida A&M36
1981 1228332 Phil Nelson RaidersTEDelaware0
1982 1228334 Tim Washington 49ersDBFresno State2
1983 1228335 John Tuggle Giants[lower-alpha 2]RBCalifornia16
1984 1228336 Randy Essington RaidersQBColorado0
1985 1228336 Donald Chumley 49ersDTGeorgia0
1986 1228333 Mike Travis ChargersDBGeorgia Tech0
1987 1228335 Norman Jefferson Packers[lower-alpha 3]DBLSU14
1988 1228333 Jeff Beathard Rams[lower-alpha 4]WRSouthern Oregon0
1989 1228335 Everett Ross Vikings[lower-alpha 5]WROhio State0
1990 1227331 Demetrius Davis Raiders[lower-alpha 6]TENevada0
1991 1228334 Larry Wanke GiantsQBJohn Carroll0
1992 1228336 Matt Elliott RedskinsCMichigan63
1993 828224 Daron Alcorn Buccaneers[lower-alpha 7]KAkron0
1994 728222 Marty Moore Patriots[lower-alpha 8]LBKentucky112
1995 741249 Michael Reed PanthersDBBoston College3
1996 745254 Sam Manuel 49ersLBNew Mexico State0
1997 739240 Ronnie McAda PackersQBArmy0
1998 752241 Cam Quayle RavensTEWeber State0
1999 747253 Jim Finn Bears[lower-alpha 9]RBPennsylvania106
2000 748254 Michael Green Bears[lower-alpha 10]DBNorthwestern State104
2001 746246 Tevita Ofahengaue CardinalsTEBYU0
2002 750261 Ahmad Miller TexansDTUNLV0
2003 748262 Ryan Hoag Raiders[lower-alpha 11]WRGustavus Adolphus0
2004 754255 Andre Sommersell RaidersLBColorado State0
2005 741255 Andy Stokes PatriotsTEWilliam Penn0
2006 747255 Kevin McMahan RaidersWRMaine0
2007 745255 Ramzee Robinson LionsCBAlabama26
2008 745252 David Vobora RamsOLBIdaho40
2009 747256 Ryan Succop ChiefsKSouth Carolina216
2010 748255 Tim Toone LionsWRWeber State0
2011 753254 Cheta Ozougwu TexansDERice9
2012 746253 Chandler Harnish ColtsQBNorthern Illinois0
2013 748254 Justice Cunningham ColtsTESouth Carolina4
2014 741256 Lonnie Ballentine TexansSMemphis4
2015 739256 Gerald Christian CardinalsTELouisville3
2016 732253 Kalan Reed Titans[lower-alpha 12]CBSouthern Miss7
2017 735253 Chad Kelly BroncosQBOle Miss1
2018 738256 Trey Quinn Redskins[lower-alpha 13]WRSMU16
2019 740254 Caleb Wilson CardinalsTEUCLA5
2020 741255 Tae Crowder GiantsLBGeorgia43
2021 731259 Grant Stuard BuccaneersLBHouston49
2022 741262 Brock Purdy 49ersQBIowa State25
2023 742259 Desjuan Johnson Rams[lower-alpha 14]DEToledo11
2024 737257 Jaylen Key JetsSAlabama0

See also

Explanatory notes
  1. Although some contemporary sources list Don Nottingham, who had a seven-year career in the NFL, as the last pick of this draft, the Oakland Raiders passed when their time came to pick in the last round and wound up choosing last.
  2. Pick traded from the Washington Redskins to the New York Giants prior to selection.
  3. Pick traded from the New York Giants to the Green Bay Packers prior to selection.
  4. Pick traded from the Washington Redskins to the Los Angeles Rams prior to selection.
  5. Pick traded from the San Francisco 49ers through the Los Angeles Raiders to the Minnesota Vikings prior to selection.
  6. Pick traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Los Angeles Raiders prior to selection.
  7. Pick traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to selection.
  8. Pick traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the New England Patriots prior to selection.
  9. Supplemental pick awarded to the reactivated Cleveland Browns, traded from the Browns to the Chicago Bears prior to selection.
  10. Supplemental pick awarded to the reactivated Cleveland Browns, traded from the Browns to the Chicago Bears prior to selection.
  11. Supplemental pick awarded to the expansion Houston Texans, traded from the Texans to the Oakland Raiders prior to selection.
  12. Pick traded from the Denver Broncos to the Tennessee Titans prior to selection. This was a non-compensatory pick.
  13. Compensatory pick traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Washington Redskins prior to selection; from 2017 onwards, compensatory picks may be traded.
  14. Supplemental compensatory pick traded from the Houston Texans to the Los Angeles Rams prior to selection.

Citations
  1. "Irrelevant Week is pretty, well, relevant". May 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. Merron, Jeff (April 18, 2005). "The strangest NFL draft moments". ESPN. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  3. "'Mr. Irrelevant' Marty Moore a Major Success Story for Patriots". NESN. March 10, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  4. May, Peter (July 3, 2007). "Providence hoops legend Jimmy Walker dies at 63". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  5. "'Mr. Irrelevant' Marty Moore a Major Success Story for Patriots". March 10, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  6. "NFL Draft 2013: Top 5 most relevant Mr. Irrelevant selections of all time". April 27, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  7. "20 NFL draft Mr. Irrelevants who worked their way to (some sort of) relevance". April 29, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  8. "Kansas City Chiefs - RB Jamaal Charles Voted Derrick Thomas Award Winner, K Ryan Succop Wins Mack Lee Hill Award". Archived from the original on January 13, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  9. Wesseling, Chris (May 1, 2018). "John Elway: Broncos giving up on Paxton Lynch". nfl.com. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  10. "Roundup: Colts sign former Broncos QB Chad Kelly". NFL.com. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  11. "Toronto Argonauts win 109th Grey Cup Winnipeg Blue Bombers". TSN. The Canadian Press. November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  12. "Chad Kelly Named 2023 George Reed Most Outstanding Player".
  13. "Photos: San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy only quarterback to beat Tom Brady in first career start". December 12, 2022.
  14. "Mr. Relevant: Purdy's first career TD pass makes NFL history". RSN. December 4, 2022.
  15. Madison, Kyle (October 23, 2022). "Brock Purdy makes history in NFL debut". USAToday. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  16. "49ers list Brock Purdy as starter". RSN. August 8, 2023.
  17. "San Francisco 49ers 2023 Postseason NFL Schedule".
  18. "Niners clinch NFC's No. 1 seed with win over Commanders, Eagles' loss to Cardinals". NFL.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  19. Bonilla, David (December 31, 2023). "Brock Purdy sets 49ers record for passing yards in a single season". 49ers Webzone. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  20. "Lamar Jackson wins AP NFL MVP Award". Associated Press. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  21. "Purdy becomes 49ers' first Pro Bowl QB in over two decades". NBC Sports Bay Area & California. January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  22. Bishop, Greg (April 21, 2023), Mr. Irrelevant Has Never Been More Relevant, Thanks to Brock Purdy, retrieved December 8, 2023
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