It’s the signature honor – and pose – in college football.
Every year, the Heisman Trophy immortalizes someone into history. The top player in the country gets to lift the award in front of past winners, joining a fraternity of college football royalty.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels earned the award in 2023, beating out fellow finalists Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Here’s a look back at the Heisman Trophy’s history, along with every winner of the last 89 years.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.
When was the Heisman Trophy first awarded?
Before it was called the Heisman Trophy, the top individual honor in college football was called the DAC Trophy. It was awarded by New York City’s Downtown Athletic Club beginning in 1935 to honor the top college football player east of the Mississippi River. The University of Chicago’s Jay Berwanger won the inaugural award.
Downtown Athletic Club director John Heisman died the following year, and the trophy was renamed in his honor. Larry Kelley of Yale became the first player to win the Heisman Trophy under the new name.
Sports
Which player has won the most Heisman Trophies?
Archie Griffin made Heisman history in 1975.
The Ohio State running back was coming off a Heisman-winning season in 1974 and went on to earn the honor once again in his senior campaign. He became the first player to win two Heismans and remains the only player to pull off the feat.
Which school has the most Heisman Trophy winners?
USC leads the pack with eight Heisman Trophies. It was in a four-way tie with Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma at the top of the list until the Heisman Trust reinstated Reggie Bush’s 2005 on April 24. The Trojans’ most recent Heisman winner is Caleb Williams, who took home the honor in 2022.
Alabama has made a strong charge up the list in recent years. No player from the school had taken home the award until 2009, and it has since accumulated four. The Heisman Trophy went to Tuscaloosa in consecutive years with DeVonta Smith winning in 2020 and Bryce Young winning in 2021.
Further down the list, Army, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Michigan and Nebraska have each won the Heisman Trophy three times.
Every Heisman Trophy winner in history
1935: Jay Berwanger, Chicago, HB
1936: Larry Kelley, Yale, End
1937: Clint Frank, Yale, HB
1938: Davey O’Brien, TCU, QB
1939: Nile Kinnick, Iowa, HB/QB
1940: Tom Harmon, Michigan, HB
1941: Bruce Smith, Minnesota, HB
1942: Frank Sinkwich, Georgia, HB
1943: Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame, QB
1944: Les Horvath, Ohio State, HB/QB
1945: Doc Blanchard, Army, FB
1946: Glenn Davis, Army, HB
1947: Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame, QB
1948: Doak Walker, SMU, HB
1949: Leon Hart, Notre Dame, End
1950: Vic Janowicz, Ohio State, HB/P
1951: Dick Kazmaier, Princeton, HB
1952: Billy Vessels, Oklahoma, HB
1953: Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame, HB
1954: Alan Ameche, Wisconsin, FB
1955: Howard Cassady, Ohio State, HB
1956: Paul Hornung, Notre Dame, QB
1957: John David Crow, Texas A&M, HB
1958: Pete Dawkins, Army, HB
1959: Billy Cannon, LSU, HB
1960: Joe Bellino, Navy, HB
1961: Ernie Davis, Syracuse, HB/LB/FB
1962: Terry Baker, Oregon State, QB
1963: Roger Staubach, Navy, QB
1964: John Huarte, Notre Dame, QB
1965: Mike Garrett, USC, HB
1966: Steve Spurrier, Florida, QB
1967: Gary Beban, UCLA, QB
1968: O.J. Simpson, USC, HB
1969: Steve Owens, Oklahoma, FB
1970: Jim Plunkett, Stanford, QB
1971: Pat Sullivan, Auburn, QB
1972: Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska, WR/RB
1973: John Cappelletti, Penn State, RB
1974: Archie Griffin, Ohio State, RB
1975: Archie Griffin, Ohio State, RB
1976: Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh, RB
1977: Earl Campbell, Texas, RB
1978: Billy Sims, Oklahoma, RB
1979: Charles White, USC, RB
1980: George Rogers, South Carolina, RB
1981: Marcus Allen, USC, RB
1982: Herschel Walker, Georgia, RB
1983: Mike Rozier, Nebraska, RB
1984: Doug Flutie, Boston College, QB
1985: Bo Jackson, Auburn, RB
1986: Vinny Testaverde, Miami (Fla.), QB
1987: Tim Brown, Notre Dame, WR
1988: Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, RB
1989: Andre Ware, Houston, QB
1990: Ty Detmer, BYU, QB
1991: Desmond Howard, Michigan, WR/PR
1992: Gino Torretta, Miami (Fla.), QB
1993: Charlie Ward, Florida State, QB
1994: Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, RB
1995: Eddie George, Ohio State, RB
1996: Danny Wuerffel, Florida, QB
1997: Charles Woodson, Michigan, CB/PR
1998: Ricky Williams, Texas, RB
1999: Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, RB
2000: Chris Weinke, Florida State, QB
2001: Eric Crouch, Nebraska, QB/WR
2002: Carson Palmer, USC, QB
2003: Jason White, Oklahoma, QB
2004: Matt Leinart, USC, QB
2005: Reggie Bush, USC, RB
2006: Troy Smith, Ohio State, QB
2007: Tim Tebow, Florida, QB
2008: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB
2009: Mark Ingram Jr., Alabama, RB
2010: Cam Newton, Auburn, QB
2011: Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB
2012: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, QB
2013: Jameis Winston, Florida State, QB
2014: Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB
2015: Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
2016: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
2017: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2018: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
2019: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2020: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
2021: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2022: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2023: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
