A History Of Heisman Winners In The Super Bowl

Four Heisman winners entered the 2025 NFL Playoffs, but none emerged from the battle royale with a ticket to Super Bowl LX, so the number of Super Bowls to feature a Heisman winner will stand at 24.

A year ago, DeVonta Smith became the 12th Heisman Trophy winner to win a Super Bowl when the NFL star helped the Philadelphia Eagles defeat Kansas City, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX.

DeVonta Smith became the first Heisman Trophy winner to record a touchdown catch in the Super Bowl Sunday and helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX, 40-22. Photo credit: Philadelphia Eagles/Hunter Martin

Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young, injured-but-rostered Jacksonville rookie Travis Hunter had hoped to join the Heisman-in-the-Super Bowl club while Smith looked to return for a third time, but their teams all lost before the conference championship round.

Smith, the 2020 Heisman winner from Alabama, had a team-high 69 receiving yards on four receptions against the Chiefs last year, including a 46-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter that gave the Eagles a 34-0 lead.

Smith became just the fourth Heisman winner to pair a national championship in college (he helped the Crimson Tide to a title in 2020) with a Super Bowl win. He joined Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen and Charles Woodson in the exclusive club. Only Allen has also been named a Super Bowl MVP.

Heisman winners and Dallas Cowboy Super Bowl stars Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett — Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach (12) and running back Tony Dorsett (33) of the Dallas Cowboys come out for player introductions before Super Bowl XIII on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ross Lewis/NFL)

Smith also became just the sixth Heisman winner to play in two or more Super Bowls and the first to record a Super Bowl touchdown catch. His first appearance was in Super Bowl LVII, when the Eagles fell to Kansas City, 38-35.

The other five Heisman winners to appear in two or more Super Bowls include Roger Staubach, Mike Garrett, Dorsett, Jim Plunkett and Woodson. Only Staubach has appeared in more than two, playing in five for the Dallas Cowboys.

There has been a Heisman winner in 24 of 59 Super Bowls with 21 different players on Super Bowl rosters making a combined 30 appearances. A combined 12 Heisman winners have won a total of 14 Super Bowls (Staubach and Plunkett being the only repeat winners).

Heisman winner Jim Plunkett threw for three TDs while leading the Oakland Raiders to a win in Super Bowl XV over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Staubach quarterbacked Dallas in the Super Bowl in 1971, 1972, 1976, 1978 and 1979 while fellow Cowboy Dorsett joined him in the last two.

The Cowboys won in 1972 and 1978, giving Staubach his pair of rings. Plunkett led the Raiders to titles in 1981 and 1984.

Garrett appeared for the Chiefs in 1967 and 1970 while Woodson played in the Super Bowl with the Raiders (2003) and the Packers (2011).

Interestingly, only in the first Super Bowl —before it was dubbed as such — did Heisman winners appear on both teams, Garrett with the Chiefs and Paul Hornung with the Packers.

Overall, four Heisman winners have earned Super Bowl MVP honors. Allen (1984), Staubach (1972), Plunkett (1981) and Desmond Howard (1997).

Below is a list of Heisman SuperBowl-related superlatives

Heisman Winners Named Super Bowl MVP

Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys — Super Bowl VI 1/16/72

Jim Plunkett, Oakland Raiders — Super Bowl XV 1/25/81

Marcus Allen, L.A. Raiders — Super Bowl XVIII 1/22/84

Desmond Howard, Green Bay Packers — Super Bowl XXXI 1/26/97

Players Who Won Heisman, National Title & Super Bowl

Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Charles Woodson, Reggie Bush,

DeVonta Smith

Players Who Won Heisman, National Title, Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP

Marcus Allen

Players Who Won Heisman, National Title, NFL MVP, Super Bowl &

Super Bowl MVP

Marcus Allen

Most Super Bowl appearances by a Heisman winner

5 – Roger Staubach

Most Super Bowl victories by a Heisman winner

2 – Roger Staubach, Jim Plunkett

Most rushing yards by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

191 – Marcus Allen, 1984.

Most passing yards by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

265 – Cam Newton, 2016

Most TD passes by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

3 – Jim Plunkett (1981), Roger Staubach (1979)

Most TDs scored by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

2 – Marcus Allen (1984), Eddie George (2000)

Most receptions by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

7 – DeVonta Smith, 2023

Most TD receptions by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

1 – DeVonta Smith, 2025 (46 yards)

Longest reception by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

46 yards – DeVonta Smith, 2025.

Most receiving yards gained by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

100 – DeVonta Smith, 2023.

Most tackles by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

8 – Charles Woodson, 2003.

Most interceptions by a Heisman winner in a Super Bowl

1 – Charles Woodson, 2003.