Ronnie Lott was drafted No. 8 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1981 NFL Draft out of USC. 192 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 123 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #8
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 192
- Years as starter
- 14
- Career AV
- 1234th at USC
- Pro Bowls
- 10
- All-Pro
- 6
The pick
How Ronnie Lott came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
USC
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
192 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 123 career approximate value
- Games played
- 192
- Seasons as a starter
- 14
- Career approximate value
- 1234th among USC picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 10585% of career value
- Final season
- 199413 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl
Around pick 8
Who came off the board on either side of Ronnie Lott.
California
Pittsburgh · 2× Pro Bowl
Michigan
Kansas
USC in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from USC
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
USC · Hall of Fame · 4× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl
#34
Tim McDonald
DB · ARI · 1987
USC · 6× Pro Bowl
#15
Dennis Smith
DB · DEN
USC · 6× Pro Bowl
#19
Joey Browner
DB · MIN · 1983
USC · 3× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
#6
Mark Carrier
DB · CHI · 1990
USC · 3× Pro Bowl
#59
Jason Sehorn
DB · NYG · 1994
USC
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Ronnie Lott in the 1981 NFL Draft
Ronnie Lott is a Defensive back out of USC selected No. 8 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1981 NFL Draft. 192 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 123 career approximate value USC has produced 252 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 Ronnie Lott drafted?
Ronnie Lott was selected No. 8 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/ronnie-lott.
What college did Ronnie Lott play for?
Ronnie Lott played college football at USC in the Big Ten. See every USC draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/usc-trojans.
How did Ronnie Lott's NFL career turn out?
192 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 123 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 6× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/ronnie-lott.