On April 23, 1939, the first NFL draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia. This event would go on to become a cornerstone of the NFL's player selection process and a highly anticipated annual event for football fans around the world.

At the time, the draft was far from the glitzy, televised extravaganza it is today. It was a relatively low-key affair attended by representatives from the league's 10 teams. The draft order was determined by the teams' standings from the previous season, with the last-place team picking first and the champion picking last.

The first-ever NFL draft pick was Jay Berwanger, a running back from the University of Chicago. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, who had finished the 1938 season with a record of 5-6. However, Berwanger never played a down in the NFL, as he and the Eagles failed to come to terms on a contract. He instead opted to pursue a career in rubber manufacturing.

In total, 81 players were selected in the inaugural NFL draft, which lasted nine rounds. Some notable players drafted that year include Hall of Famers Ace Parker (2nd round, Brooklyn Dodgers) and Bulldog Turner (7th round, Chicago Bears).

The 1939 NFL draft laid the foundation for the league's future success by establishing a system for distributing talent evenly among teams and promoting competitive balance. Today, the NFL draft is a three-day event that attracts millions of viewers and has become an essential part of the league's identity.