Cal Bears By The Numbers in the NFL Draft

1 and 418

In the 80 years of the NFL Draft, Cal Bear alumni have been drafted everywhere from first overall to 418th overall. Coincidentally, both selections were made by the Atlanta Falcons.

In the 17th round of the 1969 draft, the Falcons picked Cal running back/wide receiver Paul Williams as the 418th overall pick that year. Williams never played for the Falcons, but found a good measure of success north of the border, playing in the Canadian Football League as a defensive back. In eight years for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, Williams was a three-time CFL All-Star.

Six years later in 1975, the Falcons drafted the first (and thus far only) Cal Bear first overall when they took quarterback Steve Bartkowski as the initial pick. In his 11 seasons with the Falcons, Bartkowski was a two-time Pro Bowler, in 1980 and 1981, and held just about every passing record for the team. Before Matt Ryan broke each record, Bartkowski had the most wins, completions, attempts, passing yards, and touchdowns in Falcons’ history. Unfortunately, he still has the most interceptions thrown in franchise history. He is in the Atlanta Falcons’ Ring of Honor.

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