First Heisman

Book excerpt: A biography of Jay Berwanger (1914-2002), heralded as one of the greatest football players of the first half of the 20th Century. The modest son of an Iowa blacksmith, Berwanger starred at the University of Chicago (1933-35), then a member of the Big Ten Conference. He earned All-American honors in 1934 and 1935, including the captaincy of a 1934 All-American Team. In 1935, he received the first Heisman Trophy. Berwanger was the first player selected in the first-ever draft of the National Football League. However, he passed up the NFL and took a job in Chicago, where he eventually became a business owner and millionaire. His post-athletic years included stints as a sportswriter, coach, referee, and military pilot trainer. As the significance of the Heisman Trophy increased over time, so did Berwanger's standing as the first Heisman recipient.