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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/State_Of_Hockey on 2025-04-22 19:30:06+00:00.

Like most Catholics around the world, my immediate reaction to the passing of His Holliness was “what does this mean for the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin?”. 

Since the AFL/NFL merger, there have been 4 popes (and 3 drafts) following the death of a Pontiff: 1979, 2004 and 2013. 

  • 1979: St. Paul VI (a huge Vikings Fan, judging by the name he chose) passed in August of 1978. His replacement, John Paul I, only lived for 33 days after assuming the papacy, and passed in September of 1978.  So, the draft following their deaths was in 1979.
  • 2005: Pope John Paul II died in early April of 2005 - a shame since Alex Smith and Jesus were both notable comeback players of the year. While Benedict took over before the draft, it seemed important to include 2005 for the sake of statistical and holy integrity.
  • 2013: Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February of 2013, likely after recognizing the weakness of the draft class.

Variables used to determine career productivity as a player: 

With 28 picks in the first round of the 1979 draft, and 32 in both 2005 and 2013, there have been 92 post-Pope death first round picks. For each of these picks, I assessed the following. 

  • Games played; Seasons Played; Average games/season; Number of Pro Bowl Selections; Number of All Pro Selections; Hall of Fame Inductions

I then took the average of each of these categories to average success by pick number. I will focus on the top 5 and bottom 5 in each category.

Games Played: 

  • Picks 25, 1, 31, 21 and 5 have played the most games (Averaging between 137-155 career games)
  • Picks 18, 23, 16, 32 and 12 have played the fewest games in their careers (Averaging between 59-79 career games).
  • 2025 takeaway:
    • Blessed: HOU, TEN, KC, PIT and JAX
    • Cursed: SEA, GB, AZ, PHI, and DAL

Seasons Played: 

  • Picks 25, 21, 8, 26 and 10 have played the most seasons (Averaging between 10-11 seasons)
  • Picks 27, 31, 32, 30 and 18 have played the fewest games in their careers (Averaging between 5-7 seasons).
  • 2025 takeaway:
    • Blessed: HOU, PIT, CAR, LAR, CHI
    • Cursed: BAL, KC, PHI, BUF, and SEA

Average games/season: 

  • Picks 3, 29, 10, 11 and 21 averaged the most games per season (between 14-15).
  • Picks 6, 30, 27, 18 and 1 averaged the fewest games per season (between 10-11).
  • 2025 takeaway:
    • Blessed: NYG, WAS, CHI, SF, PIT
    • Cursed: LV, BUF, BAL, SEA, and TEN

 Number of Pro Bowl Selections

  • Picks 29, 26, 8, 22 and 17 averaged the most Pro Bowls (between 3-4).
  • Picks 30, 27, 15, 31 and 23 averaged the fewest Pro Bowls (0).
  • 2025 takeaway:
    • Blessed: WAS, LAR, CAR, LAC, CIN
    • Cursed: BUF, BAL, ATL, KC, GB

Number of All Pro Selections

  • Picks 26, 29, 14, 17 and 22 averaged the most All Pro selections (between 2-3).
  • Picks 30, 27, 15, 31 and 23 averaged the fewest Pro Bowls (0).
  • 2025 takeaway:
    • Blessed: LAR, WAS, IND, CIN, LAC,
    • Cursed: BUF, BAL, ATL, KC, GB

Number of HOF Selections: 

This was obviously less impactful, given only 3 players have (so far) been elected to the HOF (one each from picks 26, 17 and 11)

  • 2025 takeaway:
    • Blessed: LAR, CIN, and SF

Bottom Line: 

History has shown that the Pope’s passing provides the Rams, Steelers, and Commanders the best chance to draft a franchise player in 2025. Conversely, the Bills, Ravens, and Chiefs, Seahawks and Falcons figure to be in purgatory after round 1.