Celebrating Black History Month: Ernie Davis, first African American to win the Heisman trophy

Ernest "Ernie" Davis, born December 14. 1939 in New Salem, Pennsylvania, was the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. He grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Elmira, New York to live with his mother and stepfather.  In school, he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football, and earned All-American honors while at Elmira Free Academy.  He was recruited by numerous colleges, but chose Syracuse University.

He played for Syracuse for three seasons and managed national fame in all of them.  Twice, he won first-team All-American, and led Syracuse to a national championship in 1959.  He was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1961 during his senior year at Syracuse.

Davis was the first overall pick in the 1962 NFL draft in December 1961 by the Washington Redskins, and traded almost immediately by the Cleveland Browns.

In the summer of 1962 he was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia. He died in May 1963 without having played a professional game.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Sam Bradford, first Native American to win the Heisman Trophy

Sam Bradford, born November 8 (Happy birthday, Sam!), 1987 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is the first Native American to win the Heisman Trophy.  He is a member of the Cherokee Nation and was drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.  He set a record for most completions by a rookie in NFL history and won NFL Offense Rookie of the Year.  

He played football at Putnam City North High School and accepted a scholarship from University of Oklahoma.  He became only the second sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.  Bradford played for the Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Arizona Cardinals.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Jim Plunkett, first Hispanic to win Heisman Trophy

Jim Plunkett, born December 5, 1947 in San Diego, California to Mexican-American parents, won the Heisman Trophy award in 1970, beating Joe Theismann and Archie Manning, becoming the first Latino to win the award. He is also the only Latino selected first in the NFL Draft by the Patriots in 1971. He is the first Latino to start a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders in 1980 and then became the first Latino to be named Super Bowl MVP. 

He is only one of four players to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP.  Roger Staubach is another.

https://www.heisman.com/articles/spotlighting-jim-plunkett-in-honor-of-national-hispanic-heritage-month/#:~:text=He%20is%20a%20Pac%2D8,New%20England%20Patriots%20in%201971.

Roger Staubach is awarded the Heisman Trophy 1963

The greatest quarterback ever, Roger "Roger the Dodger" Staubach was awarded the Heisman Trophy on November 26, 1963. It was his junior year at Navy and after graduation, he did a four-year tour in Vietnam.  When he returned he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and became quarterback extraordinaire!