35 years ago, first Heisman Trophy winners inducted into Pro Football HOF

Photo courtesy of
wikipedia.com

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved'

CANTON, OHIO (July 31, 2020) Thirty-five years ago, on August 3, 1985, five men were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The list included Frank Gatski, Joe Namath, Pete Rozelle, O.J. Simpson, and Roger Staubach.

Two players from the list also received an additional honor, albeit not an "official" one. Roger Staubach and O.J. Simpson became the first two Heisman Trophy winners to be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Staubach, who played quarterback at the U.S. Naval Academy received his Heisman Trophy is junior year. Known as “Roger the Dodger,” all he lead Navy to the No. 2 tanking in the country and a berth in the Cotton Bowl, where the faced the No. 1 Texas Longhorns. He completed 106 passes in 161 attempts for 1,474 yards, and was named consensus All-America, as well as winning the Maxwell Trophy and Walter Camp Memorial Trophy.

Five years later, in 1968, Simpson won his Heisman Trophy, as a senior running back at USC, He began his college career at City College of San Francisco were he named a junior college All-American in 1966. He to USC in 1967, where he also ran track. The following fall, Simpson led the nation in rushing with 1,543 yards and scored 13 touchdowns to help lead USC to a 10-1 record and the national title.

Staubach was selected in the 1964 NFL Draft as a 10th round pick by the Dallas Cowboys, due to the fact he had a five-year commitment to the U.S. Navy once he left college. He played his rookie NFL season in 1969 for the Cowboys. He played his entire 10-year career in Dallas.

Simpson, who also played his rookie season on 1969, was selected in the first round, as the first pick, by the Buffalo Bills. He stayed will the bill until 1977. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers prior to the 1979 season, were he played two seasons.