The Heisman Curse

Before everyone wants to anoint 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram as a great pro before he even plays in an NFL game, think about what has happened to past Heisman Trophy winners.

There have been several winners of the prestigious award that have been busts in the NFL, guys such as Andre Ware, Ty Detmer, Gino Torretta, Desmond Howard and Jason White. Now yes, there have been some more recent Heisman Trophy winners in the past who have had tremendous NFL careers; guys such as Barry Sanders, Eddie George, Reggie Bush and Carson Palmer (the latter two from USC). The jury is still out on Matt Leinart. He will have to wait as long as Kurt Warner is playing well. Tim Tebow might be a productive quarterback in the NFL, or maybe at some other position like Tight End. Fellow Gator and 1996 winner Danny Wuerffel didn't make it in the NFL. RB Ron Dayne of Wisconsin and QB Chris Weinke of Florida St. had average NFL careers at best

Former Florida St. QB Charlie Ward, who won the Heisman in 1993, ended up being productive in the pros, but as a Point Guard for the New York Knicks. Not every Heisman winner is a sinch to make it in the NFL. Vinnie Testaverde, who won the Heisman in 1985 as a quarterback for the Univ. of Miami Hurricanes, struggled for most of his NFL career.
Yes, there also have been those like Roger Staubach, Jim Plunket, Earl Campbell and Tony Dorsett who had stellar NFL careers. Doug Flutie, the Heisman winner in 1984, had an up and down career in the NFL but won a Grey Cup Title with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.

But in the past 20 years, many of the former Heisman winners such as Wuerffel, didn't last too long in the League. Here's something hopeful for those prospective draft picks who didn't win the big award. Joe Montana, John Elway, Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Dan Marino, Tom Brady and Steve Young never won the Heisman, but all but Peterson and Marino have won at least one Super Bowl, and all of them either have already been or will be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame.