John Swain was drafted No. 101 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Miami. 77 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #101
- Round
- 4
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 77
- Years as starter
- 4
- Career AV
- 1982nd at Miami
The pick
How John Swain came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Miami
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
77 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value
- Games played
- 77
- Seasons as a starter
- 4
- Career approximate value
- 1982nd among Miami picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1474% of career value
- Final season
- 19876 years after the draft
Around pick 101
Who came off the board on either side of John Swain.
LSU
Cal Poly
Tulsa
North Carolina
Miami in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Miami
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Miami · Hall of Fame · 5× All-Pro · 9× Pro Bowl
#57
Devin Hester
DB · CHI · 2006
Miami · Hall of Fame · 3× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
#8
Antrel Rolle
DB · ARI · 2005
Miami · 3× Pro Bowl
#24
Brandon Meriweather
DB · NE · 2007
Miami · 2× Pro Bowl
#5
Sean Taylor
DB · WAS · 2004
Miami · 2× Pro Bowl
#28
Darryl Williams
DB · CIN · 1992
Miami · 1× Pro Bowl
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
John Swain in the 1981 NFL Draft
John Swain is a Defensive back out of Miami selected No. 101 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1981 NFL Draft. 77 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value Miami has produced 265 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 John Swain drafted?
John Swain was selected No. 101 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 4). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/john-swain.
What college did John Swain play for?
John Swain played college football at Miami in the ACC. See every Miami draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/miami-hurricanes.
How did John Swain's NFL career turn out?
77 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 19 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/john-swain.