✦ Mixed Bag: The results are far from guaranteed success. Some Heisman winners who were top picks, like Cam Newton and Roger Staubach, excelled in the NFL, becoming league MVPs and Super Bowl champions. Unfortunately, others like Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf became cautionary tales, failing to live up to the hype and experiencing short, underwhelming careers.
Heisman winners who were the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft (Heisman year, player, school, NFL team)
✦ 1935 – Jay Berwanger – Chicago – Philadelphia Eagles - Never played
• 1940 – Tom Harmon – Michigan – Chicago Bears
• 1942 – Frank Sinkwich – Georgia – Detroit Lions
• 1943 – Angelo Bertelli – Notre Dame – Boston Yanks
• 1949 – Leon Hart – Notre Dame – Detroit Lions (3X NFL Champ, Pro Bowl, All-Pro)
• 1956 – Paul Hornung – Notre Dame – Green Bay Packers - Pro HOF
• 1959 – Billy Cannon – LSU – Los Angeles Rams-never signed (3X AFL Champ, 2X Pro Bowl, 2XAll-Pro)
• 1961 – Ernie Davis – Syracuse – Washington Redskins
• 1962 – Terry Baker – Oregon State – Los Angeles Rams
• 1969 – O.J. Simpson – USC – Buffalo Bills - Pro HOF
• 1970 – Jim Plunkett – Stanford – New England Patriots
• 1977 – Earl Campbell – Texas – Houston Oilers - PRo HOF
• 1978 – Billy Sims – Oklahoma – Detroit Lions
• 1980 – George Rogers – South Carolina – New Orleans Saints
• 1985 – Bo Jackson – Auburn – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 1986 – Vinnie Testaverde – Miami – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2002 – Carson Palmer – USC – Cincinnati Bengals
• 2008 – Sam Bradford – Oklahoma – St. Louis Rams
• 2010 – Cam Newton – Auburn – Carolina Panthers
• 2013 – Jameis Winston – Florida State – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2017 – Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma – Cleveland Browns
• 2019 - Kyler Murray - Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals
• 2020 - Joe Burrow - LSU - Cincinnati Bengals
• 2023 - Bryce Young - Alabama - Carolina Panthers
Challenges of Adaptation:
The leap from college to the NFL is significant. Stronger competition, complex defenses, and the demands of the professional game can expose weaknesses that are not evident at the collegiate level. Injuries can also derail promising careers.
✦ Quarterback Emphasis: Notably, quarterbacks dominate this category. The pressure on these top picks is immense, as they're expected to be franchise cornerstones. Running backs and defensive players, drafted first overall less frequently, have yet to see the same boom-or-bust pattern.
Heisman Winners in the 2024 BFL Draft
✦ CALEB WILLIAMS, 2022 USC QB
✦ JAYDEN DANIELS 2023 LSU QB
✦ Shifting Trends: While some Heisman winners at the top of the draft have struggled, recent years have shown promise. Players like Joe Burrow and Kyler Murray have displayed early success, suggesting a potential shift in the narrative.
Overall, Winning the Heisman and being drafted number one doesn't guarantee NFL stardom. It's a complex equation in which talent, adaptation, and a bit of luck play crucial roles. Some players thrive under pressure, while others struggle to translate their college dominance to the professional level.
