Ken O'Brien was drafted No. 24 overall by the New York Jets in the 1983 NFL Draft out of UC Davis. 129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 73 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #24
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1983
- NFL games
- 129
- Years as starter
- 7
- Career AV
- 731st at UC Davis
- Pro Bowls
- 2
The pick
How Ken O'Brien came off the board in 1983.
- Position
- Quarterback QB
- College
-
UC Davis
Big Sky at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 73 career approximate value
- Games played
- 129
- Seasons as a starter
- 7
- Career approximate value
- 731st among UC Davis picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 7299% of career value
- Final season
- 199310 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 2× Pro Bowl
Around pick 24
Who came off the board on either side of Ken O'Brien.
San José State · 2× Pro Bowl
Arizona State
Nebraska
USC · 3× Pro Bowl
Other QB picks from UC Davis
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Ken O'Brien in the 1983 NFL Draft
Ken O'Brien is a Quarterback out of UC Davis selected No. 24 overall by the New York Jets in the 1983 NFL Draft. 129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 73 career approximate value UC Davis has produced 9 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 Ken O'Brien drafted?
Ken O'Brien was selected No. 24 overall by the New York Jets in the 1983 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/ken-o-brien.
What college did Ken O'Brien play for?
Ken O'Brien played college football at UC Davis in the Big Sky. See every UC Davis draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/uc-davis-aggies.
How did Ken O'Brien's NFL career turn out?
129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 73 career approximate value Accolades: 2× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1983/ken-o-brien.