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The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books.
The draft for the upcoming 2026 season concluded on Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh with the 257th selection — a selection that has, over the years, earned the honors of having the nickname, "Mr. Irrelevant."
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy has given the name more relevance with his play in the NFL, despite being the last pick of the 2022 draft. Ryan Succop (2009) and Marty Moore (1994) are two more notable names to earn the nickname, with Moore the first Mr. Irrelevant to win a Super Bowl, as well.
Here's what you need to know about who Mr. Irrelevant is from the 2026 NFL Draft and more:
Mr. Irrelevant 2026 is Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock, who was selected with the 257th and final pick of the draft by the Denver Broncos. Murdock ranked second in the nation with 142 tackles and led the Bulls with a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss on top of five sacks and six forced fumbles in 2025, earning second-team All-America selection by Walter Camp, the AP and the FWAA.
He stands at nearly 6 feet, 2 inches tall and is 232 pounds.
The term "Mr. Irrelevant" is given the name of the last player taken in the NFL draft in a given year. Despite how it sounds, the name is not a derision, but a positive spin on the pick.
The nickname was first introduced by former USC receiver and NFL draftee Paul Salata, who handed the nickname to Kelvin Kirk in the 1976 NFL Draft, after the Pittsburgh Steelers took the Dayton wide receiver with the last pick of the draft.
Salata played collegiately for Southern California ahead of a playing career for the AAFC/NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1949-1950 and 1950 for the Baltimore Colts. After the Colts franchise folded, he was selected in the 10th round of the 1951 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, after being deemed eligible for the draft.
"We established Irrelevant Week to drive home an important message — that it’s not a negative to be picked last in the NFL Draft; rather, it’s an honor to be drafted at all,” Salata said on the organization's website. “The last draft pick’s demonstration of perseverance is a lesson that resonates not only with NFL players and fans but also with people everywhere.”
Mr. Irrelevant refers only to the last selection of the NFL draft in a given year, not any specific number. That's because the number of picks in a given draft varies from year to year based on compensatory picks awarded to teams.
For example, Rams defensive end Desjuan Johnson was Mr. Irrelevant in 2023 and went No. 259. Purdy was picked No. 262 in 2022, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Grant Stuard went with pick No. 259 in 2021 and New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder went No. 255 in 2020.
Mr. Irrelevant will go with Pick No. 257 in 2026, marking the third straight year of the same number for the pick.
Here's a look at every Mr. Irrelevant since the inception of the nickname in 1976:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who was Mr. Irrelevant 2026? Red Murdock is final pick of NFL draft
Continue reading...
The draft for the upcoming 2026 season concluded on Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh with the 257th selection — a selection that has, over the years, earned the honors of having the nickname, "Mr. Irrelevant."
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy has given the name more relevance with his play in the NFL, despite being the last pick of the 2022 draft. Ryan Succop (2009) and Marty Moore (1994) are two more notable names to earn the nickname, with Moore the first Mr. Irrelevant to win a Super Bowl, as well.
Here's what you need to know about who Mr. Irrelevant is from the 2026 NFL Draft and more:
Who was Mr. Irrelevant 2026 from NFL draft?
Mr. Irrelevant 2026 is Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock, who was selected with the 257th and final pick of the draft by the Denver Broncos. Murdock ranked second in the nation with 142 tackles and led the Bulls with a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss on top of five sacks and six forced fumbles in 2025, earning second-team All-America selection by Walter Camp, the AP and the FWAA.
He stands at nearly 6 feet, 2 inches tall and is 232 pounds.
What is Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL draft?
The term "Mr. Irrelevant" is given the name of the last player taken in the NFL draft in a given year. Despite how it sounds, the name is not a derision, but a positive spin on the pick.
The nickname was first introduced by former USC receiver and NFL draftee Paul Salata, who handed the nickname to Kelvin Kirk in the 1976 NFL Draft, after the Pittsburgh Steelers took the Dayton wide receiver with the last pick of the draft.
Salata played collegiately for Southern California ahead of a playing career for the AAFC/NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1949-1950 and 1950 for the Baltimore Colts. After the Colts franchise folded, he was selected in the 10th round of the 1951 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, after being deemed eligible for the draft.
"We established Irrelevant Week to drive home an important message — that it’s not a negative to be picked last in the NFL Draft; rather, it’s an honor to be drafted at all,” Salata said on the organization's website. “The last draft pick’s demonstration of perseverance is a lesson that resonates not only with NFL players and fans but also with people everywhere.”
What number is Mr. Irrelevant?
Mr. Irrelevant refers only to the last selection of the NFL draft in a given year, not any specific number. That's because the number of picks in a given draft varies from year to year based on compensatory picks awarded to teams.
For example, Rams defensive end Desjuan Johnson was Mr. Irrelevant in 2023 and went No. 259. Purdy was picked No. 262 in 2022, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Grant Stuard went with pick No. 259 in 2021 and New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder went No. 255 in 2020.
Mr. Irrelevant will go with Pick No. 257 in 2026, marking the third straight year of the same number for the pick.
Mr. Irrelevant NFL draft history
Here's a look at every Mr. Irrelevant since the inception of the nickname in 1976:
- 1976, Pick 487: Kelvin Kirk, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dayton
- 1977, Pick 335: Jim Kelleher, RB, Minnesota Vikings, Colorado
- 1978, Pick 334: Lee Washburn, G, Dallas Cowboys, Montana State
- 1979, Pick 330: Mike Almond, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, Northwestern State
- 1980, Pick 333: Tyrone McGriff, G, Pittsburgh Steelers, FAMU
- 1981, Pick 331: Phil Nelson, TE, Oakland Raiders, Delaware
- 1982, Pick 334: Tim Washington, DB, San Francisco 49ers, Fresno State
- 1983, Pick 335: John Tuggle, RB, New York Giants, California
- 1984, Pick 336: Randy Essington, QB, Los Angeles Raiders, Colorado
- 1985, Pick 336: Donald Chumley, DT, San Francisco 49ers, Georgia
- 1986, Pick 333: Mike Travis, DB, San Diego Chargers, Georgia Tech
- 1987, Pick 335: Norman Jefferson, DB, Green Bay Packers, LSU
- 1988, Pick 333: Jeff Beathard, WR, Los Angeles Rams, Southern Oregon
- 1989, Pick 335: Everett Ross, WR, Minnesota Vikings, Ohio State
- 1990, Pick 331: Demetrius Davis, TE, Los Angeles Raiders, Nevada
- 1991, Pick 334: Larry Wanke, QB, New York Giants, John Carroll
- 1992, Pick 336: Matt Elliott, C, Washington, Michigan
- 1993, Pick 224: Daron Alcorn, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Akron
- 1994, Pick 222: Marty Moore, LB, New England Patriots, Kentucky
- 1995, Pick 249: Michael Reed, DB, Carolina Panthers, Boston College
- 1996, Pick 254: Sam Manuel, LB, San Francisco Giants, New Mexico State
- 1997, Pick 240: Ronnie, McAda, QB, Green Bay Packers, Army
- 1998, Pick 241: Cam Quayle, TE, Baltimore Ravens, Weber State
- 1999, Pick 253: Jim Finn, FB, Chicago Bears, Pennsylvania
- 2000, Pick 254: Michael Green, DB, Chicago Bears, Northwestern State
- 2001, Pick 246: Tevita Ofahengaue, TE, Arizona Cardinals, BYU
- 2002, Pick 261: Ahmad Miller, DT, Houston Texans, UNLV
- 2003, Pick 262: Ryan Hoag, WR, Oakland Raiders, Gustavus Adolphus
- 2004, Pick 255: Andre Sommersell, LB, Oakland Raiders, Colorado State
- 2005, Pick 255: Andy Stokes, TE, New England Patriots, William Penn
- 2006, Pick 255: Kelvin McMahan, Oakland Raiders, Maine
- 2007, Pick 255: Ramzee Robinson, DB, Detroit Lions, Alabama
- 2008, Pick 252: David Vobora, OLB, St. Louis Rams, Idaho
- 2009, Pick 256: Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City Chiefs, South Carolina
- 2010, Pick 255: Tim Toone, WR, Detroit Lions, Weber State
- 2011, Pick 254: Cheta Ozougwu, DE, Houston Texans, Rice
- 2012, Pick 253: Chandler Harnish, QB, Indianapolis Colts, Northern Illinois
- 2013, Pick 254: Justice Cunningham, TE, Indianapolis Colts, South Carolina
- 2014, Pick 256: Lonnie Ballentine, S, Houston Texans, Memphis
- 2015, Pick 256: Gerald Christian, TE, Arizona Cardinals, Louisville
- 2016, Pick 253: Kalan Reed, DB, Tennessee Titans, Southern Miss
- 2017, Pick 253: Chad Kelly, QB, Denver Broncos, Ole Miss
- 2018, Pick 256: Trey Quinn, WR, Washington, SMU
- 2019, Pick 254: Caleb Wilson, TE, Arizona Cardinals, UCLA
- 2020, Pick 255: Tae Crowder, LB, New York Giants, Georgia
- 2021, Pick 259: Grant Stuart, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston
- 2022, Pick 262: Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers, Iowa State
- 2023, Pick 259: Desjuan Johnson, DE, Los Angeles Rams, Toledo
- 2024, Pick 257: Jaylen Key, DB, New York Jets, Alabama
- 2025, Pick 257: Kobee Minor, DB, New England Patriots, Memphis
- 2026, Pick 257: Red Murdock, LB, Denver Broncos, Buffalo
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who was Mr. Irrelevant 2026? Red Murdock is final pick of NFL draft
Continue reading...
