In 1936, the club's athletic director, football pioneer John Heisman, died and the trophy was renamed in his honor. Larry Kelley, the second winner of the award, was the first to win it as the "Heisman Trophy". [3] . In addition to the name change, the …

In 1935, Berwanger was the first recipient of the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, renamed the Heisman Trophy the following year. At its inception, the award was given to "the most valuable player east of the Mississippi."

The first African American player to win the Heisman was Syracuse's Ernie Davis, who never played a snap in the NFL. He was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after winning the award and died in 1963. In 1966, former Florida Gators quarterback Steve Spurrier gave his Heisman trophy to the university president, Dr. J. Wayne Reitz , so that the ...

Nov 18, 2024 · The oldest player to win the Heisman Trophy is Florida State’s Chris Weinke. He was 28 years old. Six programs have won back-to-back Heismans: Alabama, Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State, Army and...

Dec 14, 2024 · Here is a complete list of every Heisman Trophy winner since 1935 and the players that finished second and third each season. The award is given annually to the nation's most outstanding...

The University of Chicago’s great Jay Berwanger was the first recipient of the “Downtown Athletic Club Trophy,” later dubbed the Heisman Memorial Trophy. Born in 1914 in Dubuque, Iowa, Berwanger excelled at wrestling and track as well as football, winning renown as an all-state halfback at Dubuque High.

Jan 13, 2025 · The first winner of the Heisman Trophy was Jay Berwanger, who played halfback at the University of Chicago. Running back Archie Griffin of the Ohio State University is the only two-time winner of the Heisman. He won the award in 1974 and 1975.

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith is announced as the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner. Smith became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard of the Michigan Wolverines in...

Dec 17, 2024 · Throughout the Heisman’s history, only one player has been awarded the trophy twice: running back Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975. Charles Woodson (1997) and Travis Hunter (2024) are the only two winners who played defense full time.

Dec 31, 2024 · It was part of the unique story of Jay Berwanger, the first recipient of the Heisman Trophy, whose victory in 1935 demonstrated how far the award has come. Though Berwanger was an established gridiron star, his laurels, and the trophy itself, pale in …