First Heisman

A biography of Jay Berwanger (1914-2002), heralded as one 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-America honors in 1934 and 1935, including the captaincy of a 1934 All-America 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.