Billy Sims

Detroit Lions 1st pick

RB · Oklahoma · 1980–1984

Draft Details

Year

1980

Round

Round 1

Pick

1st overall

Team

Detroit Lions

Position

College

Oklahoma

Billy Sims Career Stats

3× Pro Bowl selection.
Primary starter for 5 seasons.
Ranks 2nd in the 1980 draft class in rushing yards (5,106).

Career Totals

Games	Rush Yds	Rush TD	Rec	Rec Yds	Rec TD
60	5,106	42	186	2,072	5

Career span: 1980–1984.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

Billy Sims is a former running back out of Oklahoma, selected by the Detroit Lions with the 1st overall pick (round 1) in the 1980 NFL Draft. He played 60 regular-season games from 1980 to 1984. He was named to 3 Pro Bowls.

More from the 1980 Draft

Rd	Pick	Team	Player	Pos	College
1	2	NYJ	Lam Jones	WR	Texas
1	2	NYJ	"Johnny ""Lam"" Jones"	WR	Texas
1	3	CIN	Anthony Munoz	OT	USC
1	4	GB	Bruce Clark	DT	Penn State
1	5	BAL	Curtis Dickey	RB	Texas A&M
1	6	LA	Curtis Greer	DE	Michigan
1	7	ATL	Junior Miller	TE	Nebraska
1	8	NYG	Mark Haynes	DB	Colorado
1	10	SEA	Jacob Green	DE	Texas A&M
1	11	KC	Brad Budde	G	USC

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