Although many Heisman Trophy winners have failed to make a big splash in the NFL, a select few have used
their Heisman Trophy as a spring board for greater achievements while breaking the Heisman Jinx.
Heisman Trophy Winners in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Name | School | Heisman year | Pro Football HOF Induction Year |
Doak Walker | SMU | 1948 | 1986 |
Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | 1956 | 1986 |
Roger Staubach | Navy | 1963 | 1985 |
O.J. Simpson | USC | 1968 | 1985 |
Tony Dorsett | Pittsburgh | 1976 | 1994 |
Earl Campbell | Texas | 1977 | 1991 |
Marcus Allen | USC | 1981 | 2003 |
Barry Sanders | Oklahoma State | 1988 | 2004 |
Tim Brown | Notre Dame | 1987 | 2015 |
Heisman Trophy Winners That Became NFL Rookie of the Year |
Tony Dorsett – 1977 |
Earl Campbell 1978 |
George Rogers – 1981 |
Marcus Allen – 1982 |
Barry Sanders – 1989 |
Eddie George – 1996 |
Charles Woodson – 1998 |
Cam Newton – 2011 |
Heisman Trophy Winners – NFL Players of the Year
Name | School | Year | Team | Award |
Frank Sinkwich | Georgia | 1944 | Detroit | Carr |
Paul Hornung | Notre Dame | 1961 | Green Bay | UPI-AP-Bell |
Roger Staubach | Navy | 1971 | Dallas | Bell |
O.J. Simpson | USC | 1973 | Buffalo | AP-Bell |
O.J. Simpson | USC | 1978 | Buffalo | PFWA |
Earl Campbell | Texas | 1979 | Houston | AP-Bell-PFWA |
Marcus Allen | USC | 1985 | LA Raiders | AP-PFWA |
Barry Sanders | Oklahoma State | 1997 | Detriot | SN-Bell-SI |
Cam Newton | Auburn | 2016 | Carolin | AP |
Heisman Trophy Super Bowl MVP’s
Name | School | Super Bowl/Date | Team |
Roger Staubach | Navy | VI 1/16/72 | Dallas Cowboys |
Jim Plunkett | Stanford | XV 1/25/81 | Oakland Raiders |
Marcus Allen | USC | XVIII 1/22/84 | LA Raiders |
Desmond Howard | Michigan | XXXI 1/26/97 | Green Bay Packers |