Russell Gary was drafted No. 29 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. 80 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 29 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #29
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 80
- Years as starter
- 4
- Career AV
- 2935th at Nebraska
The pick
How Russell Gary came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Nebraska
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
80 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 29 career approximate value
- Games played
- 80
- Seasons as a starter
- 4
- Career approximate value
- 2935th among Nebraska picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2897% of career value
- Final season
- 19876 years after the draft
Around pick 29
Who came off the board on either side of Russell Gary.
Houston
Penn State
Minnesota
Boise State
Nebraska in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Nebraska
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Nebraska · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl
#137
Tyrone Hughes
DB · NO · 1993
Nebraska · 1× Pro Bowl
#56
Mike Minter
DB · CAR · 1997
Nebraska
#272
Brian Washington
DB · CLE · 1988
Nebraska
#93
Tyrone Williams
DB · GB · 1996
Nebraska
#19
Prince Amukamara
DB · NYG · 2011
Nebraska
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Russell Gary in the 1981 NFL Draft
Russell Gary is a Defensive back out of Nebraska selected No. 29 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1981 NFL Draft. 80 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 29 career approximate value Nebraska has produced 203 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 Russell Gary drafted?
Russell Gary was selected No. 29 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/russell-gary.
What college did Russell Gary play for?
Russell Gary played college football at Nebraska in the Big Ten. See every Nebraska draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/nebraska-cornhuskers.
How did Russell Gary's NFL career turn out?
80 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 29 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/russell-gary.