Keith Gary was drafted No. 17 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. 86 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #17
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 86
- Years as starter
- 3
- Career AV
- 2154th at Oklahoma
The pick
How Keith Gary came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- College
-
Oklahoma
SEC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
86 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value
- Games played
- 86
- Seasons as a starter
- 3
- Career approximate value
- 2154th among Oklahoma picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 21100% of career value
- Final season
- 19887 years after the draft
Around pick 17
Who came off the board on either side of Keith Gary.
USC · 6× Pro Bowl
San José State
North Carolina
Stanford · 3× Pro Bowl
Oklahoma in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from Oklahoma
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Keith Gary in the 1981 NFL Draft
Keith Gary is a Defensive end out of Oklahoma selected No. 17 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1981 NFL Draft. 86 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value Oklahoma has produced 224 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 Keith Gary drafted?
Keith Gary was selected No. 17 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/keith-gary.
What college did Keith Gary play for?
Keith Gary played college football at Oklahoma in the SEC. See every Oklahoma draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/oklahoma-sooners.
How did Keith Gary's NFL career turn out?
86 regular-season games · 3 seasons as a starter · 21 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/keith-gary.