NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

NFL Draft: Biggest bust from each franchise’s history

By Hans Themistode

LOS ANGELES, CA - CIRCA 1988:Aundray Bruce of the Atlanta Falcons against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum circa 1988 in Los Angeles,California on November 20th 1988. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - CIRCA 1988:Aundray Bruce of the Atlanta Falcons against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum circa 1988 in Los Angeles,California on November 20th 1988. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
27 of 33
Next

Biggest NFL Draft bust from Philadelphia Eagles history: Jay Berwanger, HB

Stats: 

  • N/A

The color is absent from the television screens and the grainy picture makes it almost unrecognizable.

In 1936, halfback Jay Berwanger was a dominant player at the University of Chicago. He was the first-ever winner of the Downtown Athletic Club trophy which was later renamed the Heisman.

Berwanger became the first player drafted into the NFL in 1936 by the Philadelphia Eagles. Ironically enough, he didn’t play a single snap for them or anyone else for that matter. Instead, he chose to compete for a spot in the decathlon in the 1936 Olympics. Ultimately, Berwanger failed to make the cut and attempted to make his way back to the Eagles. The Philadelphia franchise opted to trade him to the Chicago Bears where negotiations quickly went up in flames.

Berwanger’s financial demands were $12,500, yet Bears owner George Halas offered Berwanger simply shook his hand and told him to have a good life. Berwanger later focused on coaching, writing sports columns and owning businesses.

Some players fail to live up to the hype, but in the case of Berwanger, he simply never played a down of football in the NFL, making him an easy choice as the biggest bust in Eagles history.

Home/NFL