Ever wondered what happens to the last pick of each year’s draft class? There is a phenomenon in the league that is specially reserved for the final selection of the draft. Those players who get selected at the very end of a draft class are honorably given the nickname ‘Mr. Irrelevant.’
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Some final picks have made it to the NFL roster. However, some fall short of reaching the goal of training camp. It’s not just a nickname that was once given to a player. There’s a rich history behind it that is intriguing and hilarious at the same time.
Here’s what you should know about ‘Mr. Irrelevant’
Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname bestowed upon the final pick of the annual NFL Draft. Even though the NFL draft dates back to 1936, the first person to be called Mr. Irrelevant was Kelvin Kirk of the 1976 NFL Draft. One might think that this title is discouraging, the league and the fans actually celebrate Mr. Irrelevant in unique way.
The tradition of celebrating Mr. Irrelevant dates back to 1976 as well when former NFL player and Southern California resident Paul Salata started it. Salata, who was a receiver for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s, came up with the idea to create an event around the last player selected in the draft as a way to bring attention to the draft’s final pick and to provide some lighthearted entertainment for football fans.
Since then, each year, the player selected last in the NFL draft is given the title of Mr. Irrelevant. The player is invited to Newport Beach, California, where he is presented with the Lowsman Trophy, a parody of the Heisman Trophy that depicts a football player fumbling a ball.
The trophy is meant to be a humorous reminder that, even though the player was the last pick in the draft, he is still an NFL player and should be proud of his accomplishment. The celebration of Mr. Irrelevant has become a tradition in the NFL, with many former recipients going on to have successful careers in the league.
Here are some of the most famous last picks
While being the last pick may seem like a disadvantage, some ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ picks have actually gone on to have successful NFL careers.
Ryan Succop (2009): Succop was the last pick of the 2009 NFL Draft and went on to become one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs for six seasons before joining the Tennessee Titans in 2014.
Jim Finn (1999): Finn was the last pick of the 1999 NFL Draft and went on to have a solid career as a fullback for the New York Giants. He played in 101 games over eight seasons and was a key contributor to the Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XLII.
Marty Moore (1994): Moore was the last pick of the 1994 NFL Draft and played for nine seasons as a linebacker for the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. He played in 118 games and recorded 198 tackles, 10 sacks, and four interceptions.
Kelvin Kirk (1976): Kirk was the first-ever “Mr. Irrelevant” pick and played for three seasons as a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He only caught one pass in his NFL career, but he scored a touchdown on that catch.
Paul Salata (1946): Salata was the first-ever “Mr. Irrelevant” pick and had a successful career as an NFL wide receiver. He played for the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1951. However, Salata is perhaps best known for creating the ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ tradition in the first place.
While being the last pick of the NFL Draft may not seem like a recipe for success, these “Mr. Irrelevant” selections show that it’s still possible to make an impact in the NFL.
