Howard Richards was drafted No. 26 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Missouri. 69 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 16 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #26
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 69
- Years as starter
- 1
- Career AV
- 1632nd at Missouri
The pick
How Howard Richards came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Guard G
- College
-
Missouri
SEC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
69 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 16 career approximate value
- Games played
- 69
- Seasons as a starter
- 1
- Career approximate value
- 1632nd among Missouri picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1594% of career value
- Final season
- 19876 years after the draft
Around pick 26
Who came off the board on either side of Howard Richards.
Auburn · 4× Pro Bowl
Florida State
Houston
Penn State
Missouri in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other G picks from Missouri
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Howard Richards in the 1981 NFL Draft
Howard Richards is a Guard out of Missouri selected No. 26 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFL Draft. 69 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 16 career approximate value Missouri has produced 108 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Howard Richards drafted?
Howard Richards was selected No. 26 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/howard-richards.
What college did Howard Richards play for?
Howard Richards played college football at Missouri in the SEC. See every Missouri draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/missouri-tigers.
How did Howard Richards's NFL career turn out?
69 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 16 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/howard-richards.