In the 2013 Heisman Trophy race, there are four quarterback candidates. The favorite to win college football’s most prestigious individual accolade is Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston, and he will be with fellow quarterbacks Johnny Manziel, Jordan Lynch, and AJ McCarron in New York City on Saturday night. However, Heisman Trophy winning signal-callers have not always matched their collegiate success in the NFL. Let’s take a look back at the professional careers of the last 10 Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks.
Eric Crouch (2001)
Eric Crouch won the Heisman Trophy in his senior season at Nebraska. In the ensuing NFL draft, Crouch was selected in the third round by the St. Louis Rams. The Rams believed that Crouch, a very athletic player, would serve better as a wide receiver, and intended to play him at that position. He retired after a freak injury, and never played a single game for the Rams. Crouch is often viewed as one of the biggest disappointments in Heisman Trophy history.
Carson Palmer (2002)
Palmer is the first USC quarterback on this list, but not the last. Palmer was drafted with the first pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer has been to the Pro-Bowl two times, but did not win a single playoff game with the Bengals. He was traded to the Raiders, and was traded again last off-season. Now with Arizona, Palmer has the Cardinals in prime position for his third career playoff appearance. However, first overall picks should win a couple of playoff games before their eleventh season in the NFL.
Jason White (2003)
White, an Oklahoma Sooner, went undrafted in the 2005 NFL draft. He is only one of three Heisman Trophy recipients to not be selected in the NFL draft.
Matt Leinart (2004)
Leinart, the second USC quarterback on this list, was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round. He sat behind Kurt Warner for a few years, and it was assumed that he would take over the starting job when Warner announced his retirement. However, Derek Anderson won that job, and Leinart’s career has gone downhill since. He was released by the Cardinals in 2010, and bounced around to the Texans, Raiders, and Bills in the seasons since. He is currently a free agent.
Troy Smith (2006)
The Ohio State alum was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played in 20 games in the NFL, with the Ravens and with the San Francisco 49ers. He threw for eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He currently plays for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.
Tim Tebow (2007)
The only Florida Gator on this list is also the only quarterback on this list who has won a playoff game in the NFL. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round, Tim Tebow defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime in the Wild Card round of the playoffs in January, 2012. He was traded to the New York Jets when the Broncos acquired Peyton Manning. The New England Patriots signed Tim Tebow after he was released by the Jets, but he was cut by them as well. He is currently a free agent.
Sam Bradford (2008)
Bradford, the second Sooner on this list, was selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2010 NFL Draft. Bradford is arguably one of the more successful quarterbacks on this list, but has a career record of 18-30-1. He is currently on injured reserve because of a torn ACL, but he has many years left to right the ship on his career.
Cam Newton (2010)
Newton was also a first overall pick in the draft, as he was chosen in 2011 by the Carolina Panthers. He won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2011, and set the single-season record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. He has the Panthers in a good position for a playoff appearance for the first time in his young career, and he has had a very successful pro career thus far.
Robert Griffin III (2011)
In the 2012 NFL draft, the Washington Redskins traded multiple future picks to the St. Louis Rams for the second overall pick, with which they selected Robert Griffin III. The 2012 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year won the NFC East in his first season, but was ousted in the Wild Card round by the Seattle Seahawks. He has struggled in his sophomore season, and has been shut down for the rest of the year. RGIII is another of the promising young quarterbacks on this list, so time will tell on the success of this Heisman Trophy recipient.
Johnny Manziel (2012)
Johnny Manziel has not finished his collegiate career, but experts around the NFL believe that he will declare for the 2014 NFL Draft. He is projected as a first round pick, as there are many quarterback needy teams in the NFL. However, we can only wait and see on Johnny Football’s professional career.
Even though this list is only a small sample, Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks have not always been the best players selected in their respective drafts. Of these 10 quarterbacks, only Tim Tebow has won a playoff game. Half of the players mentioned on this list are not currently in the NFL! I’m not so sure if I believe in a Heisman Trophy curse, but it is evident that winning college football’s most prestigious award does not always translate to success in the NFL.
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