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The Heisman Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to “the most outstanding player in college football.” Sometimes, those guys who are the most outstanding players at the collegiate level are bound for superstardom from day one. But sometimes those guys either peaked in their college days, or were never really meant to play at the professional level.
That’s why we wanted to take a look at both camps: the guys who won the Heisman Trophy in college and became stars in the National Football League, and the guys who also won the Heisman, and became big time NFL busts. Without further delay, here are 17 Heisman Trophy winners who were busts in the NFL.
Continue reading on the next page.
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David says
RGIII was hardly a bust. Had a rookie year that other rookie QBs never came close to. Injuries took their toll.
bryan dowd says
how about that Pat Sullivan from Auburn 1971 or Terry Baker from Oregon in 1962 were complte busts in the NFL as as that John Huarte from Norte Dame in 1964
Greg says
Danny Wuerffel and Florida did not win the National Championship at the end of the 1995 season. Nebraska ran all over Florida and totally dominated them in a 62-24 rout. Danny Wuerffel spent a good deal of the game on his backside after numerous Cornhusker sacks.
Tommy Frazier made the highlight reels with a 75 yard touchdown run with 6 Gators hanging on to him before he finally broke away.
Kevin says
Most satisfying game EVER!! GBR!
jared says
Sorry, but no one who lasts 5 years in the NFL can truly be considered a “bust”.
Nigel Sellars says
An awful lot of quarterbacks here. Maybe because it’s the most difficult position to play and the one most dependent on having a really good offensive line?
Go Noles says
Wuerffel wasn’t a Seminole, wrong image. I stand corrected, that’s the Redskins.
mb says
As far Griffith the 3rd, I think his injury the first year should not consider him a bust. He achieved a conference championship and went as far the semifinals in the playoffs. It’s hard to criticize players in here that had injuries.
Mike says
You may be correct because if his “injury” qualifies him as a bust then Bo Jackson should be qualified as a bust as well. I’m a HUGE Bo Jackson fan but he only played four years before he got hurt. In those four years he accumulated roughly 2700 yards. Sorry but that is NOT a stellar NFL career. I think had the injury NOT occurred he could have had a wonderful career but “If ifs and buts were candies and nuts we’d all have a merry Christmas.”
Butch Newkirk says
What about Archie Griffith!
Nigel Sellars says
Agreed. May have been the biggest bust of all. Two-time winner. Nothing in the NFL. And his lesser known brother Ray ended up being a great player.
dsnjd says
The Biggest Bomb in history of the NFL has to be R.G. III. Both his ego and that of his head coach were so big that they risked his career unnecessarily and ended his NFL career after less than one season.He should have never been drafted, and than after he was he should have been put on IR rather than allowed to return to the field after injuring previously injured leg.; He is now out of Football. entirely A very fitting end, for R.G. ME!
BEN E CALVERT says
It is for the best college player. Not the best chance in a NFL CAREER.
Edward D. Althouse says
I do not think Manziel was well coached. I still think he has time to regroup.
your mama says
teebow was backstabbed by John Elway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave says
RG III was a good QB. Shanhan road him to the ground. When he got hurt he kept him in the game until his legs were completely broken. I was surprised that RGIII didn’t take himself out of that game. It was pure torture
to watch and it destroyed him for life. I’m shocked that he’s still a back up QB . He wasn’t a bust.
Matt says
RGIII no way a bust, I agree. Shanahan killed him and RGIII never should have played against Seattle in the playoffs.
Donald O Astwood Jr says
I watched that game, and wondered why he was not taken out. Later when the coach was asked about not taking the QB out of the game,he answered as if it was no big deal.I had liked the coach since his days in Denver but after that answer I lost all respect for him.
willtalk says
From what I understand it was RG3 who didn’t want to leave the game and put himself back in. He also either never learned to slide to protect himself or just chose not too. Kaepernick was also a runner but he perfected the slide so he was not oft injured. He would know just when to slide or run out of bounds.