Kansas City Chiefs fourth round pick history is pretty unimpressive

4 of 6

PITTSBURGH – DECEMBER 14: Center Jack Rudnay #58 of the Kansas City Chiefs blocks as quarterback Bill Kenney #9 drops back to pass during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on December 14, 1980 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

#3 – Jack Rudnay, Center

Very few fourth round picks last for 13 years in the National Football League. Even fewer become starters immediately to anchor a unit. However, when Kansas City used the 101st selection of the 1969 draft on a center from Northwestern, that’s exactly what they received.

Jack Rudnay came to the Chiefs from Northwestern as an undersized (even for the time) center at just 240 pounds. He was also a terrific defensive tackle for the Wildcats and was named an all star during his senior year. Unfortunately, Rudnay sustained a back injury in the College All-Star game and missed the entirety of the 1969 season, which would have been his rookie year in Kansas City.

But after that year, Rudnay was a staple for the offensive line throughout the seventies, and when his career ended in 1982, he’d started 171 regular season games, and played in 178. He missed only 14 games his entire career and nine of those were in his final season at the age of 35.

Rudnay was named to the NFL’s Pro Bowl team four times in his career, and he earned the honor in four consecutive seasons from 1973 through 1976.

Interesting fact: Runday stuck around Kansas City after football and worked as the CEO of a veterinarian supply company.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs History