John Stephens was drafted No. 17 overall by the New England Patriots in the 1988 NFL Draft out of Northwestern State. 88 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 23 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #17
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1988
- NFL games
- 88
- Years as starter
- 4
- Career AV
- 235th at Northwestern State
- Pro Bowls
- 1
The pick
How John Stephens came off the board in 1988.
- Position
- Running back RB
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
88 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 23 career approximate value
- Games played
- 88
- Seasons as a starter
- 4
- Career approximate value
- 235th among Northwestern State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2191% of career value
- Final season
- 19935 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× Pro Bowl
Around pick 17
Who came off the board on either side of John Stephens.
Tennessee · 5× Pro Bowl
Ohio State
Eastern Kentucky
Arizona State · Hall of Fame · 7× All-Pro · 12× Pro Bowl
Other RB picks from Northwestern State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
John Stephens in the 1988 NFL Draft
John Stephens is a Running back out of Northwestern State selected No. 17 overall by the New England Patriots in the 1988 NFL Draft. 88 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 23 career approximate value Northwestern State has produced 20 NFL draft picks since 1981.
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 John Stephens drafted?
John Stephens was selected No. 17 overall by the New England Patriots in the 1988 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/john-stephens.
What college did John Stephens play for?
John Stephens played college football at Northwestern State in the Southland. See every Northwestern State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/northwestern-state-demons.
How did John Stephens's NFL career turn out?
88 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 23 career approximate value Accolades: 1× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/john-stephens.