Rick Donnalley was drafted No. 73 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1981 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 71 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #73
- Round
- 3
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 71
- Years as starter
- 2
- Career AV
- 2444th at North Carolina
The pick
How Rick Donnalley came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Center C
- College
-
North Carolina
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
71 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value
- Games played
- 71
- Seasons as a starter
- 2
- Career approximate value
- 2444th among North Carolina picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 417% of career value
- Final season
- 19876 years after the draft
Around pick 73
Who came off the board on either side of Rick Donnalley.
USC · 1× Pro Bowl
Western Illinois
Tennessee
Oklahoma State
North Carolina in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other C picks from North Carolina
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Rick Donnalley in the 1981 NFL Draft
Rick Donnalley is a Center out of North Carolina selected No. 73 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1981 NFL Draft. 71 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value North Carolina has produced 154 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 Rick Donnalley drafted?
Rick Donnalley was selected No. 73 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 3). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/rick-donnalley.
What college did Rick Donnalley play for?
Rick Donnalley played college football at North Carolina in the ACC. See every North Carolina draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-tar-heels.
How did Rick Donnalley's NFL career turn out?
71 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 24 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/rick-donnalley.