Green Bay Packers NFL Draft history: Number one pick – 1939

Larry Buhler – Packers 1939 first round selection

With an unprecedented 19 draft selections in 1939, the Green Bay Packers used their first overall pick and ninth selection overall on Larry Buhler, a running back out of the University of Minnesota.

Considering that the Packers had a solid draft in 1938 that was highlighted by first round selection Cecil Isbell, the draft for Green Bay in 1939 wasn’t so good.

Buhler played just three years in Green Bay, starting 10 of the 21 games in which he played. His rookie season he played in three games and carried the ball five times for three yards … yes, you read that correctly.

His final season, 1941, Buhler played 11 games, but didn’t have a single carry.

Buhler’s best season was in 1940. Though he only played in seven games, he carried the ball 36 times for 118 yards.

In his career in Green Bay, Buhler didn’t score a single point.

I can’t imagine the screaming that would occur today if a first round draft pick put up those kinds of numbers – but it was a different era of football back then.

Despite the fact that Buhler didn’t contribute much, the Green Bay Packers did win the NFL Championship in 1939 with a 27-0 win over the New York Giants – a game played in Milwaukee.

Larry Buhler’s career statistics

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2015.

Next: Cecil Isbell was the 1938 first round pick of the Packers