Ronnie Lott

San Francisco 49ers 8th overall

SAF · USC

Ronnie Lott is a former safety out of USC, selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 8th overall pick (round 1) in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played 192 regular-season games from 1981 to 1994. He was named to 10 Pro Bowls and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Draft Details

Year

1981

Round

Round 1

Pick

8th overall

Team

San Francisco 49ers

Position

SAF

College

USC

Ronnie Lott Career Stats

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
10× Pro Bowl selection, 6× first-team All-Pro.
Primary starter for 14 seasons.
Ranks 1st in the 1981 draft class in interceptions (63).

Career Totals

Games	Sacks	Def INT
192	8.5	63

Career span: 1981–1994.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

Draft Class Context

The 8th overall pick has been used 57 times in draft history. Its most productive selection was Ryan Tannehill in 2012, who played 159 games. USC had 8 players drafted in 1981, among them Keith Van Horne and Dennis Smith. Career statistics for him are not currently held in this database; coverage is thinner for earlier draft classes.

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