1994 Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam was found dead in Boulder, Colorado, where he once starred for the University of Colorado Buffaloes. Salaam won the Heisman — college football’s most famous and prestigious honor — as a junior running back. Salaan soon moved to the NFL, where he was named NFL Rookie of the Year. But Salaam’s entire career lasted just 33 games as he was hindered by leg injuries. His death is being considered a suicide.
Salaan isn’t the first Heisman Trophy winner to find that the college prize was his pinnacle instead of a stepping stone to professional football glory. Recent Heisman winners like Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel — polar opposites in personality, perhaps — both largely failed to ignite in the NFL (though Tebow had his moments). Indeed the list of Heisman winners whose careers didn’t continue at the level the Heisman might seem to predict is not a short one. Here are a few players who, despite their accomplishments, are usually on that list:
- Tim Tebow (2007) — NFL: 3 reasons, under 50% passing
- Rashaan Salaam (1994) — NFL: played 4 seasons
- Johnny Manziel (2012) — NFL: rehab, still a chance to succeed
- Troy Smith (2006) — NFL: 4 seasons, 8 starts
- Matt Leinart (2004) — NFL: 15 TDs, 21 Ints
- Jason White (2003) — NFL: didn’t play
- Eric Crouch (2001) — NFL: no impact
- Chris Weinke (2001) — NFL: 1-15 in only season as starter
- Danny Wuerffel (1996) — NFL: 12 TDs, 22 Ints
- Gino Torretta (1992) — NFL: played two games
