Ohio State Legend Tom Cousineau Stuns NFL by Jumping to CFL After Being Drafted First Overall
Tom Cousineau, the dominant linebacker from Ohio State and the 1979 NFL Draft’s first overall pick, shocked football fans nationwide by choosing to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) instead of for the Buffalo Bills.
The stunning decision unfolded just under three months after Cousineau was selected first overall at the prestigious draft held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Expected by scouts, media, and even The New York Times to be the surest pick of the draft, Cousineau’s move to the Montreal Alouettes sent shockwaves throughout professional football.
A Record-Breaking Career at Ohio State Fuels High NFL Expectations
Cousineau was no ordinary linebacker. From his first days at Ohio State, he dominated on the field, setting every tackling record imaginable, including most total tackles and solo tackles in a season and in a single game. A two-time All-American and the Chicago Tribune’s Big Ten MVP in 1978, Cousineau was considered an unstoppable force, earning the nickname “Woody’s Sentinel” for head coach Woody Hayes.
With those credentials, the Buffalo Bills held the draft’s top pick thanks to a trade that sent O.J. Simpson to San Francisco. Buffalo’s owner Ralph Wilson selected Cousineau as planned but hit a snag in contract negotiations, reportedly offering $1.2 million over five years—a deal Cousineau found unsatisfactory.
Montreal Alouettes Offer More Than NFL, Altering the Draft Landscape
Capitalizing on Cousineau’s dissatisfaction, the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes swooped in with a lucrative offer: $150,000 per year plus a $200,000 signing bonus. Cousineau accepted, becoming the first NFL first-overall pick since 1960 to choose another league over the NFL.
“I think I can be very effective because the game is fast and wide open,” Cousineau told The New York Times after making the move.
Cousineau quickly justified his gamble, earning Grey Cup Defensive MVP honors as a rookie and winning the James P. McCaffrey Trophy as the East Division’s top defensive player in his second season.
Back to the NFL: Browns Acquire Cousineau in Blockbuster Three-Team Deal
After three CFL seasons, Cousineau opted out of his Montreal contract aiming for the NFL once again. However, the Bills still held his rights. When the Houston Oilers placed a $2.5 million five-year offer on the table—well beyond Buffalo’s reach—the Bills found a middle path with Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell, who eagerly coveted the Cleveland native.
The Bills traded Cousineau to the Browns for first, second, and third-round draft picks. That first-round choice would later become none other than Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, a franchise icon in Buffalo.
Cousineau played four years in Cleveland, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 1984, and finished his NFL career with two seasons at the San Francisco 49ers before retiring. In 2016, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Legacy of a Trailblazer Who Reshaped the Draft and Pro Football
Cousineau’s journey remains one of the most unusual and influential in football history: an Ohio State legend drafted first overall, who reshaped multiple franchises without ever playing for his original NFL team. His bold contract decisions highlighted the evolving competition between the NFL and CFL and left a lasting impact on draft negotiations and player mobility.
For football fans in Alabama and across the US, Cousineau’s story is a reminder that even the highest pick can rewrite the rules—and that talent sometimes chooses an unexpected path.
