Dec 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson poses with the trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the 2016 Heisman Trophy award during a presentation at the Playstation Theater. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-353892 ORIG FILE ID: 20161210_tdc_ae5_100.JPG
December 3, 2023 8: 00 am ET
The Heisman Trophy is the most coveted individual award in college football and is annually presented to the most outstanding player in a given season.
Over the years, there have been several winners who were running backs, wide receivers or tight ends, quarterbacks have dominated the Heisman race, especially this century, with some notable exceptions. In fact, there’s only ever been one defensive winner, Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997, and only one player to win it twice (and consecutively), Ohio State running back Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975.
RELATED: All 50 non-quarterback Heisman Trophy winners in college football history as of 2023
But in recent years, it’s been all about the quarterbacks with a passer winning the award 19 times since 2000 with the four exceptions: Alabama running backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015), Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (2020) and USC running back Reggie Bush, whose 2005 Heisman win was vacated.
Here’s a look back at every Heisman Trophy winner in chronological order since the award was first presented in 1935.
RELATED: What school has the most Heisman Trophy winners? It’s a four-way tie for first
1930s Heisman Trophy winners
University of Iowa star halfback Nile Kinnick practices in Iowa City, Iowa Nov. 2, 1939. (AP Photo/files)
- 1935: Jay Berwanger, Chicago running back
- 1936: Larry Kelley, Yale tight end
- 1937: Clinton Frank, Yale halfback
- 1938: Davey O’Brien, TCU quarterback
- 1939: Nile Kinnick, Iowa running back
1940s Heisman Trophy winners
In this Oct. 13, 1945, Army halfback Felix Blanchard (35) weaves away as three Michigan men close in to tackle him after a 3-yard first-period gain in a college football game in New York. (AP Photo/File)
- 1940: Tom Harmon, Michigan running back
- 1941: Bruce Smith, Minnesota running back
- 1942: Frank Sinkwich, Georgia running back
- 1943: Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame quarterback
- 1944: Les Horvath, Ohio State halfback
- 1945: Felix “Doc” Blanchard, Army fullback
- 1946: Glenn Davis, Army running back
- 1947: John Lujack, Notre Dame quarterback
- 1948: Doak Walker, SMU running back
- 1949: Leon Hart, Notre Dame tight end
1950s Heisman Trophy winners
Ohio State halfback Vic Janowicz shown holding the Heisman Trophy in New York Dec. 12, 1950. (AP Photo/FILE/John Lent)
- 1950: Vic Janowicz, Ohio State running back
- 1951: Dick Kazmaier, Princeton running back
- 1952: Billy Vessels, Oklahoma running back
- 1953: John Lattner, Notre Dame running back
- 1954: Alan Ameche, Wisconsin fullback
- 1955: Howard Cassady, Ohio State running back
- 1956: Paul Hornung, Notre Dame quarterback
- 1957: John David Crow, Texas A&M running back
- 1958: Pete Dawkins, Army running back
- 1959: Billy Cannon, LSU running back
1960s Heisman Trophy winners
Steve Spurrier, University of Florida quarterback, holds the Heisman Trophy, which will be presented to him at the Dec.1,1966 award dinner in New York. (AP photo)
- 1960: Joe Bellino, Navy running back
- 1961: Ernie Davis, Syracuse running back
- 1962: Terry Baker, Oregon State quarterback
- 1963: Roger Staubach, Navy quarterback
- 1964: John Huarte, Notre Dame quarterback
- 1965: Mike Garrett, USC running back
- 1966: Steve Spurrier, Florida quarterback
- 1967: Gary Beban, UCLA quarterback
- 1968: O.J. Simpson, USC running back
- 1969: Steve Owens, Oklahoma running back
1970s Heisman Trophy winners
Jan 1, 1976; Pasadena, CA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin (45) carries the ball against the UCLA Bruins in the 1976 Rose Bowl. (Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
- 1970: Jim Plunkett, Stanford quarterback
- 1971: Pat Sullivan, Auburn quarterback
- 1972: Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska wide receiver
- 1973: John Cappelletti, Penn State running back
- 1974: Archie Griffin, Ohio State running back
- 1975: Archie Griffin, Ohio State running back
- 1976: Tony Dorsett, Pitt running back
- 1977: Earl Campbell, Texas running back
- 1978: Billy Sims, Oklahoma running back
- 1979: Charles White, USC running back
1980s Heisman Trophy winners
Oct 15, 1988; Lincoln, NE, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Barry Sanders (21) carries the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. (Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
- 1980: George Rogers, South Carolina running back
- 1981: Marcus Allen, USC running back
- 1982: Herschel Walker, Georgia running back
- 1983: Mike Rozier, Nebraska running back
- 1984: Doug Flutie, Boston College quarterback
- 1985: Bo Jackson, Auburn running back
- 1986: Vinny Testaverde, Miami quarterback
- 1987: Tim Brown, Notre Dame wide receiver
- 1988: Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State running back
- 1989: Andre Ware, Houston quarterback
1990s Heisman Trophy winners
Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson (2) breaks into the end zone for a touchdown defended by Minnesota safety Tyrone Carter in the second quarter at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Saturday, Nov. 1, 1997. (AP Photo/Jeff Kowalsky)
- 1990: Ty Detmer, BYU quarterback
- 1991: Desmond Howard, Michigan wide receiver
- 1992: Gino Torretta, Miami quarterback
- 1993: Charlie Ward, Florida State quarterback
- 1994: Rashaan Salaam, Colorado running back
- 1995: Eddie George, Ohio State running back
- 1996: Danny Wuerffel, Florida quarterback
- 1997: Charles Woodson, Michigan cornerback
- 1998: Ricky Williams, Texas running back
- 1999: Ron Dayne, Wisconsin running back
2000s Heisman Trophy winners
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (15) runs away from LSU defenders during first-half college football action in Baton Rouge, La., in this Oct. 6, 2007 photo. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
- 2000: Chris Weinke, Florida State quarterback
- 2001: Eric Crouch, Nebraska quarterback
- 2002: Carson Palmer, USC quarterback
- 2003: Jason White, Oklahoma quarterback
- 2004: Matt Leinart, USC quarterback
- 2005: Reggie Bush, USC running back*
- 2006: Troy Smith, Ohio State quarterback
- 2007: Tim Tebow, Florida quarterback
- 2008: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma quarterback
- 2009: Mark Ingram, Alabama running back
*vacated
2010s Heisman Trophy winners
Dec 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson poses with the trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the 2016 Heisman Trophy