8 NFL teams that have drafted No. 1 and then made playoffs

1968 Minnesota Vikings

After finishing the 1967 season with a 3-8-3 record in Bud Grant’s first year as head coach, the Vikings found themselves with the first overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft. The Vikings used the pick on USC offensive tackle Ron Yary.

This decision paid off as Minnesota went 8-6 to win the Central Division crown during the 1968 season and Yary would go on to earn seven Pro Bowl appearances, six first-team All-Pros and a Hall of Fame induction. For the Vikings, Yary protected fellow Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton for 14 seasons as Minnesota became one the dominant forces of the 1970s, going to four Super Bowls during the decade.

Gold Jacket Spotlight celebrates the careers and lives of our Hall of Famers. Each week we will spotlight a different legend.

This week, we look back on the career of Hall of Famer Ron Yary (Class of 2001).#GoldJacketSpotlight pic.twitter.com/eL7pQkskgi

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 27, 2022