Tennessee football: Top 10 Vols who weren’t first round NFL Draft picks
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 1957 NFL Draft. Round: 2 / Pick: 24. John Gordy. 6. 50
It’s time to look at a bit of history for this one. John Gordy was a member of Tennessee football’s greatest team that existed between Robert Neyland and Doug Dickey. We’re talking, of course, about the 1956 team that went 10-0, won the SEC and was considered at times for a share of the national title. Keith Jackson himself said he felt the Vols should’ve won it that year.
Gordy played offensive line, and he blocked for Johnny Majors. In fact, his elite blocking was a key reason that Majors put up the numbers he did and was in the running for the Heisman Trophy that year, a trophy that he clearly should have won.
But while Majors went on to coach afterward, Gordy turned towards an NFL career. Despite his elite college play, he fell to the second round of the draft and was selected by the Detroit Lions. There he would remain for the next 11 years.
Throughout his time in Detroit, Gordy made three Pro Bowl appearances. He helped lead the Lions to the NFL Championship his rookie year, the last championship the franchise has won. Injury forced him into early retirement, but a three-time Pro Bowler who won a championship qualifies as a great second round pick.