Jay Berwanger
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| Jay Berwanger | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 19, 1914 |
| Place of birth |  Dubuque, Iowa |
| Date of death | June 26, 2002 |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| College | Chicago |
| NFL Draft | 1936 / Round 1/ Pick 1 |
| Awards | 1935 Heisman Trophy |
| College Hall of Fame | |
John Jay Berwanger (March 19, 1914 - June 26, 2002) was an American football player born in Dubuque, Iowa. He was the first winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1935 — at that time awarded to the best player east of the Mississippi River. Berwanger had been a star at the University of Chicago under coach Amos Alonzo Stagg (both of whom were members of the Psi Upsilon fraternity).
In a 1934 game against the University of Michigan, Berwanger left his mark on Michigan center Gerald Ford in the form of a distinctive scar beneath the future President's left eye.[1]
In 1936, Berwanger was also the first player to be drafted by the National Football League in its initial college draft; he was selected first overall by the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he chose not to turn professional and never played in the NFL.
After graduating, Berwanger was a sportswriter and later became a manufacturer of plastic car parts.
| Preceded by First award |
Heisman Trophy Winner 1935 |
Succeeded by Larry Kelley |
[edit] External links
- University of Chicago News Office: Jay Berwanger obituary
- College Football Hall of Fame bio
| National Football League number one overall Draft picks |
|---|
| Berwanger • Francis • C. Davis • Aldrich • Cafego • Harmon • Dudley • Sinkwich • Bertelli • Trippi • Dancewicz • Fenimore • Gilmer • Bednarik • Hart • Rote • Wade • Babcock • Garrett • Shaw • Glick • Hornung • Hill • Duncan • Cannon • Mason • E. Davis • Baker • Parks • Frederickson • Nobis • Bu. Smith • Yary • Bradshaw • Plunkett • Patulski • Matuszak • Jones • Bartkowski • Selmon • Bell • Campbell • Cousineau • B. Sims • Rogers • K. Sims • Elway • Fryar • Br. Smith • Jackson • Testaverde • Bruce • Aikman • George • Maryland • Emtman • Bledsoe • Wilkinson • Carter • Johnson • Pace • P. Manning • Couch • Brown • Vick • Carr • Palmer • E. Manning • A. Smith • Williams |
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Categories: College football stubs | 1914 births | 2002 deaths | American football running backs | Heisman Trophy winners | Philadelphia Eagles | National Football League first overall draft picks | People from Dubuque, Iowa | Chicago Maroons football players | College Football Hall of Fame | Cancer deaths | University of Chicago alumni
