Russ Grimm was drafted No. 69 overall by the Washington Commanders in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh. 140 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 78 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #69
- Round
- 3
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 140
- Years as starter
- 9
- Career AV
- 7810th at Pittsburgh
- Pro Bowls
- 4
- All-Pro
- 3
The pick
How Russ Grimm came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Guard G
- College
-
Pittsburgh
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
140 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 78 career approximate value
- Games played
- 140
- Seasons as a starter
- 9
- Career approximate value
- 7810th among Pittsburgh picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 78100% of career value
- Final season
- 199110 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 3× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
Around pick 69
Who came off the board on either side of Russ Grimm.
Stanford
Washington
USC · 1× Pro Bowl
Pittsburgh in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Pittsburgh · 2× Pro Bowl
#12
Randy McMillan
RB · IND
Pittsburgh
#20
Mark May
G · WAS
Pittsburgh · 1× Pro Bowl
#51
Rickey Jackson
LB · NO
Pittsburgh · Hall of Fame · 6× Pro Bowl
#63
Greg Meisner
NT · LAR
Pittsburgh
#65
Carlton Williamson
DB · SF
Pittsburgh · 2× Pro Bowl
#115
Bill Neill
NT · NYG
Pittsburgh
#120
Benjie Pryor
TE · CIN
Pittsburgh
#121
Lynn Thomas
DB · SF
Pittsburgh
#128
Jerry Boyarsky
NT · NO
Pittsburgh
#292
Rick Trocano
QB · PIT
Pittsburgh
Other G picks from Pittsburgh
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Russ Grimm in the 1981 NFL Draft
Russ Grimm is a Guard out of Pittsburgh selected No. 69 overall by the Washington Commanders in the 1981 NFL Draft. 140 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 78 career approximate value Pittsburgh has produced 151 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 Russ Grimm drafted?
Russ Grimm was selected No. 69 overall by the Washington Commanders in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 3). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/russ-grimm.
What college did Russ Grimm play for?
Russ Grimm played college football at Pittsburgh in the ACC. See every Pittsburgh draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/pittsburgh-panthers.
How did Russ Grimm's NFL career turn out?
140 regular-season games · 9 seasons as a starter · 78 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 3× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/russ-grimm.