Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Football: Biggest NFL Draft busts in program history

By Daniel Morrison

Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn holds a jersey after being selected wth the 22nd pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns at the Radio City Music Hall, April 28, 2007. (Photo by Richard Schultz/Getty Images)
Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn holds a jersey after being selected wth the 22nd pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns at the Radio City Music Hall, April 28, 2007. (Photo by Richard Schultz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
Notre dame football
Notre Dame Football Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame Football: Biggest NFL Draft busts in program history

Steve Niehaus

Steve Niehaus is a largely forgotten name among younger Notre Dame fans, but he was an elite defensive lineman for the Irish, who helped build the teams of the mid-1970s. This lead to him being taken number 2 overall in the 1976 NFL Draft.

He was one of two expansion picks, by the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers respectively, as the Buccaneers got Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, and the Seahawks ended up with Niehaus.

That might have been ok, but Niehaus had an issue. It was natural talent or technique. Effort had nothing to do with it. In fact, Niehaus showed a ton of potential in Seattle, winning the NFC Rookie of the Year Award in a year he had 9.5 sacks. That showed his awesome potential.

Niehaus’ issue, which made him a bust in the NFL, was his knees. Remember, this is the era when artificial turf may as well have been concrete and medicine was still trying to catch up. An ACL tear could end your career. Multiple knee injuries were almost impossible to overcome. Niehaus only played four NFL seasons.

Home/nfl draft