Which Heisman Winner Had the Best NFL Career? | The Countdown

By DeQwan Young
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Updated: December 23, 2024

Which Heisman Winner Had the Best NFL Career?

Carson Palmer

Palmer was a star at USC and took home the Heisman Trophy in 2002 after throwing for 3,942 yards and 33 touchdowns. Palmer was selected first-overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003. In his 15 year NFL career, Palmer was named to three Pro Bowls and threw for 46,247 yards and 294 touchdowns. Carson Palmer was among the top quarterbacks of his era.

Herschel Walker

Walker was the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner after rushing for 1,752 yards and 16 touchdowns in his final year at Georgia. He was taken in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys in 1985.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Walker finished with 8,225 rushing yards, 61 rushing touchdowns, 4,859 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns.

Tim Brown

Brown played four seasons at Notre Dame, and went out on top with a very questionable Heisman Trophy-winning season in 1987. The star wide receiver finished with 39 receptions for 846 yards and three touchdowns

Brown became one of the NFL’s most dominant receivers in the ‘90s, racking up 1,000-yard seasons every year from 1993 to 2001. He finished with 1,094 receptions for 14,934 receiving yards and 105 touchdowns.

Charles Woodson

One of the most dominant defensive players in college and NFL history, Woodson won the Heisman Trophy in 1997 as a junior for Michigan, becoming the first defensive player to win the award.

The Oakland Raiders saw his potential and drafted him fourth-overall in 1998. Woodson was a nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-team All-Pro and Super Bowl 45 champion who racked up 65 interceptions, 13 defensive touchdowns and 33 forced fumbles in his career.

Undoubtedly an all-time top cornerback.

Tony Dorsett

In his fourth year at Pittsburgh, Dorsett took home the 1976 Heisman Trophy after rushing for 2,150 yards and 22 touchdowns. Dominance.

Dorsett was a four-time Pro-Bowler, won Super Bowl 12 with Dallas and ranks ninth all-time in rushing yards with 12,739, while finishing with 92 touchdowns.

O.J. Simpson

Simpson racked up 1,709 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns in 1968, earning him the Heisman award. The Buffalo Bills took Simpson first-overall in 1969, and he became one of the most electrifying running backs ever.

‘The Juice’ won the 1973 league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award while leading the NFL in rushing four times. The Hall of Famer retired with 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns.

Earl Campbell

Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 after rushing for 1,744 yards and 18 touchdowns. He reached five Pro Bowls, won the 1979 NFL MVP and was a three-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The Hall of Famer finished with 9,407 rushing yards and 74 touchdowns.

Roger Staubach (STOW-BACH)

Staubach played three years for the Navy Midshipmen and won the Heisman Trophy in 1963 after throwing for 1,474 yards and seven touchdowns. He was drafted in the 10th-round, 129th-overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1964.

Staubach led them to Super Bowl 6 and 12 championships and was named to six Pro Bowls. “Captain Comeback” was named to the 1970s All-Decade Team, finishing his career with 153 touchdowns and 22,700 passing yards.

The Greatest Heisman Winner/NFL Player of All Time?

Barry Sanders

Barry won the 1988 Heisman Trophy as a member of the Oklahoma State, finishing with 2,850 rushing yards and 39, yes, 39 touchdowns.

Then, Sanders became the franchise cornerstone of the Detroit Lions. He only played 10 seasons in the NFL, but made the Pro Bowl every single year and even reached the 1,000-rushing yard mark in every campaign. He was co-MVP in 1997 and was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year.

Sanders was also named a six-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in rushing four times. His 15,269 rushing yards are third-most all-time, while Sanders also finished with 99 career touchdowns.