Joe Delaney was drafted No. 41 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Northwestern State. 23 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #41
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 23
- Years as starter
- 2
- Career AV
- 177th at Northwestern State
- Pro Bowls
- 1
The pick
How Joe Delaney came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Running back RB
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
23 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value
- Games played
- 23
- Seasons as a starter
- 2
- Career approximate value
- 177th among Northwestern State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 17100% of career value
- Final season
- 19821 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× Pro Bowl
Around pick 41
Who came off the board on either side of Joe Delaney.
Mississippi State
Missouri · 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
BYU
Syracuse · 1× Pro Bowl
Other RB picks from Northwestern State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Joe Delaney in the 1981 NFL Draft
Joe Delaney is a Running back out of Northwestern State selected No. 41 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1981 NFL Draft. 23 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value Northwestern State has produced 20 NFL draft picks since 1981.
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 Joe Delaney drafted?
Joe Delaney was selected No. 41 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/joe-delaney.
What college did Joe Delaney play for?
Joe Delaney played college football at Northwestern State in the Southland. See every Northwestern State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/northwestern-state-demons.
How did Joe Delaney's NFL career turn out?
23 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value Accolades: 1× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/joe-delaney.