1953 NFL draft

The 1953 National Football League draft was held on January 22, 1953, at Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. Selections made by the folded Dallas Texans were assigned to the Baltimore Colts, since the Dallas team had moved to Baltimore.

This was the seventh year that the first overall pick was a bonus pick determined by lottery, with the previous six winners (Chicago Bears in 1947, Washington Redskins in 1948, Philadelphia Eagles in 1949, Detroit Lions in 1950, New York Giants in 1951, and Los Angeles Rams in 1952) ineligible from the draw; it was won by the San Francisco 49ers, who selected end Harry Babcock.