Mister Irrelevant

Since 1976, the last player selected in the NFL draft has been dubbed Mr. Irrelevant and invited to a celebration called Irrelevant Week. The event, which was founded by former NFL player Paul Salata, raises money for Orange County charities.

The Vintage Football Card Gallery has pictures of cards only up to 1979, so it includes only one card of an official Mr. Irrelevant. It also, however, includes cards of some players who would have been named Mr. Irrelevant if the title had been awarded earlier. Most of these players turned out to be relevant, after all, or they would not have made it onto football cards. Following are all of players in the Gallery who were chosen last in the NFL draft. For a full list of the players who were drafted last, see Wikipedia's article on Mr. Irrelevant.

Bill Fischer, 1948

Bill Fischer was the final player chosen in the 1948 draft; the Chicago Cardinals picked him in the 32nd round. Fischer stayed at Notre Dame in 1948, however. The Cardinals persisted and drafted him again in 1949, this time in the first round. Fischer played five seasons for the Cardinals and went to three Pro Bowls.

Fischer is shown here on his rookie card, a 1948 Leaf, still with Notre Dame, and on his 1950 Bowman card, with the Cardinals. He also appeared on numerous other Leaf and Bowman cards.

1948 Leaf #7R: Bill Fischer 1950 Bowman #58: Bill Fischer

John Schweder, 1949

John "Bull" Schweder was the 251st and last player chosen in the 1949 draft. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him, but he apparently did not make their roster in 1949. In 1950 he joined the Baltimore Colts, but the Colts folded after the season, and the team's players were made available in the 1951 draft. In 1951, Schweder was again drafted, this time at pick number 103, by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for the Steelers from 1951 to 1955.

Pictured here is one of Schweder's rookie cards, a 1952 Bowman Small, along with his 1955 Bowman card. He also appeared on a few other 1950s Bowman cards.

1952 Bowman Small #72: John Schweder 1955 Bowman #130: John Schweder

Sisto Averno, 1951

Sisto Averno was another member of the 1950 Baltimore Colts team who ended up in the draft when the team disbanded. Averno was the last player chosen in 1951, by the Cleveland Browns in the 30th round. He played for the New York Yanks in 1951, and the Yanks folded at the end of that season. The NFL gave the remnants of the Yanks to a new franchise in Dallas in 1952, and--guess what?--that franchise also folded at the end of the season. In 1953, the league awarded the remains of the Dallas team to another Baltimore Colts franchise, and Averno spent two years with the new Baltimore team before calling it a career. (See Bob Carroll's article at profootballresearchers.com for a detailed description of the churn in the NFL in the early 1950s.)

Averno appeared on one card, the 1953 Bowman pictured here.

1953 Bowman #8: Sisto Averno

Jacque MacKinnon, 1961

Jacque MacKinnon was the last player chosen in the 1961 NFL draft. The Philadelphia Eagles chose him with the 280th overall pick. He instead signed with the AFL's San Diego Chargers, and in nine years with the Chargers, he made the Pro Bowl twice. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1976.

The cards pictured here are MacKinnon's rookie card, a short print in the 1964 Topps set, and his 1969 Topps card. He also appeared on several other Topps cards in the late 1960s.

1964 Topps #167: Jacque MacKinnon 1969 Topps #202: Jacque MacKinnon

Mike Snodgrass, 1962

Western Michigan's Mike Snodgrass was the last player chosen in the 1962 NFL draft. The Green Bay Packers chose him with the 280th overall pick. Snodgrass never played for the Packers, but he did play for the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders in 1962. He appeared on this Post Cereal CFL football card in 1963.

1963 Post CFL #19: Mike Snodgrass

Charlie Wade, 1973

Charlie Wade was the last player chosen in the 1973 NFL draft; the Miami Dolphins took him with the 442nd overall pick. He spent the 1973 season on Miami's taxi squad, then the Dolphins traded him to the Bears in 1974. He had a good year with Chicago, catching 39 passes for 683 yards. Wade then played a season for the Green Bay Packers and a season for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is pictured here on his 1975 Topps football card.

1975 Topps #293: Charley Wade

Stan Hegener, 1975

Stan Hegener was the last player chosen in the 1975 NFL draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose him with the 442nd overall pick, but he apparently did not make the team. He is pictured here on his 1973 and 1974 University of Nebraska playing cards.

1973 Nebraska Playing Cards #8D: Stan Hegener 1974 Nebraska Playing Cards #4D: Stan Hegener

Jim Kelleher, 1977

Jim Kelleher is the only official Mr. Irrelevant in the Gallery. The Mr. Irrelevant title was first awarded in 1976, and Kelleher was the last player chosen in the 1977 NFL draft. The Minnesota Vikings chose Kelleher with the 335th overall pick, but he did not see playing time in the NFL. The card here pictures Kelleher on his 1974 University of Colorado playing card.

1974 Colorado Playing Cards #11C: Jim Kelleher

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