Top 10 Heisman Trophy winners in the NFL

Winning the Heisman Trophy doesn't necessarily translate to success in the NFL. Most astute football fans already know that. But did you know that there are more Heisman winners who went undrafted (15) than those who are currently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (8)?

Transcendent success in both college football and pro football is extremely rare, and here are those special players whose success in colllege also translated to the NFL.

1987 Heisman Trophy winner (Notre Dame) -- Brown was a member of the Oakland Raiders team that advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII, as well as a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

1 / 10

10. Tim Brown

1987 Heisman Trophy winner (Notre Dame) -- Brown was a member of the Oakland Raiders team that advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII, as well as a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Associated Press

1948 Heisman Trophy winner (SMU) -- Walker was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. He was a member of Detroit Lions teams that played for the NFL championship in three consecutive seasons (1952-54), winning the titles in 1952 and 1953. Walker is a 1986 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2 / 10

9. Doak Walker

1948 Heisman Trophy winner (SMU) -- Walker was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. He was a member of Detroit Lions teams that played for the NFL championship in three consecutive seasons (1952-54), winning the titles in 1952 and 1953. Walker is a 1986 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Associated Press

1997 Heisman Trophy winner (Michigan) -- Woodson was a member of the Oakland Raiders team that advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII, as well as the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XLVI. With 65 career NFL interceptions, Woodson is tied for fifth on the NFL's all-time list. He's returned 11 of those interceptions for TDs, just one short of Rod Woodson's NFL record. He's been selected to eight Pro Bowls.

3 / 10

8. Charles Woodson

1997 Heisman Trophy winner (Michigan) -- Woodson was a member of the Oakland Raiders team that advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII, as well as the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XLVI. With 65 career NFL interceptions, Woodson is tied for fifth on the NFL's all-time list. He's returned 11 of those interceptions for TDs, just one short of Rod Woodson's NFL record. He's been selected to eight Pro Bowls.

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

1977 Heisman Trophy winner (Texas) -- Campbell was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time NFL rushing yardage leader. Campbell is a 1991 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

4 / 10

7. Earl Campbell

1977 Heisman Trophy winner (Texas) -- Campbell was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time NFL rushing yardage leader. Campbell is a 1991 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Associated Press

1976 Heisman Trophy winner (Pittsburgh) -- Dorsett was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He was a member of two Dallas Cowboys teams that advanced to the Super Bowl and one that won the Lombardi Trophy following the 1977 season. Dorsett is a 1994 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

5 / 10

6. Tony Dorsett

1976 Heisman Trophy winner (Pittsburgh) -- Dorsett was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He was a member of two Dallas Cowboys teams that advanced to the Super Bowl and one that won the Lombardi Trophy following the 1977 season. Dorsett is a 1994 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

AnonymousAssociated Press/1977 AP

1956 Heisman Trophy winner (Notre Dame) -- Hornung was a member of four championship teams (1961, 1962, 1965 and 1966) in Green Bay. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time NFL Player of the Year and posted a then-NFL record 176 points during the 1960 season. Hornung is a 1986 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

6 / 10

5. Paul Hornung

1956 Heisman Trophy winner (Notre Dame) -- Hornung was a member of four championship teams (1961, 1962, 1965 and 1966) in Green Bay. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time NFL Player of the Year and posted a then-NFL record 176 points during the 1960 season. Hornung is a 1986 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Associated Press

1968 Heisman Trophy winner (USC) -- Simpson was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the first to top the 2,000-yard rushing mark, going for 2,003 yards in 1973. Simpson is a 1985 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

7 / 10

4. O.J. Simpson

1968 Heisman Trophy winner (USC) -- Simpson was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the first to top the 2,000-yard rushing mark, going for 2,003 yards in 1973. Simpson is a 1985 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Associated Press

1981 Heisman Trophy winner (USC) -- Allen was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the 1982 NFL Rookie of the Year and earned game MVP honors when the Los Angeles Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII. Allen is a 2003 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

8 / 10

3. Marcus Allen

1981 Heisman Trophy winner (USC) -- Allen was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the 1982 NFL Rookie of the Year and earned game MVP honors when the Los Angeles Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII. Allen is a 2003 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1963 Heisman Trophy winner (Navy) -- Staubach was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He led the Dallas Cowboys to four Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII (earning game MVP honors in Super Bowl VI). Staubach is a 1985 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

9 / 10

2. Roger Staubach

1963 Heisman Trophy winner (Navy) -- Staubach was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He led the Dallas Cowboys to four Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII (earning game MVP honors in Super Bowl VI). Staubach is a 1985 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Associated Press

1988 Heisman Trophy winner (Oklahoma State) -- Sanders was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time NFL rushing yardage leader. He gained 2,053 yards in 1997, when he had a record 14 consecutive 100-yard games. Sanders is a 2004 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

10 / 10

1. Barry Sanders

1988 Heisman Trophy winner (Oklahoma State) -- Sanders was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time NFL rushing yardage leader. He gained 2,053 yards in 1997, when he had a record 14 consecutive 100-yard games. Sanders is a 2004 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

John Swart/Associated Press

Advertising

This Ad will close in 3

Advertising

gallery

Top 10 Photos of the 2024 NFL Season

Check out the best images from around the league during the 2024 NFL season.

gallery

Ranking the NFL's Biggest Contracts for 2025

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to terms on a four-year extension worth $161 million. The deal makes Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL with an average salary of $40.25 million per year. Take a look at the top 25 highest-paid NFL players, ranked by the average annual value of their contracts according to Over the Cap.