Heisman winners in the NFL draft (Updated)

(Updated 4-21-22)

The NFL loves the Heisman. The evidence for that claim is supported by the history of the league’s annual draft.

The first player ever drafted by the NFL was also the very first Heisman winner, Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago. Berwanger was selected first overall by the Philadelphia Eagles and then traded to the Chicago Bears, but it didn’t matter — Berwanger decided to skip the NFL and pursue other interests.

His indifference didn’t stop the NFL from coveting future Heisman winners.

Of the 85 Heisman winners eligible for drafting, 58 have been selected in the first round. Twenty-three of them were taken with the first overall pick and 39 within the first five selections. Just four Heisman winners ended up not being drafted (two of them had military obligations, one went to the NBA and one had multiple knee injuries that affected his draft stock).

The 2018 NFL draft featured two Heisman winners for the sixth time overall and fourth time since 2010. Baker Mayfield became the 21st Heisman winner to be the first overall player selected. In 2019, Kyler Murray of Oklahoma matched his former Oklahoma teammate and become the the 22nd Heisman winner to be selected first overall. And, for the first time since 1986-87 (and fifth time overall), a Heisman winner went first overall in back-to-back drafts (it was the first time it happened from the same school).

When Joe Burrow was selected first in the 2020 NFL draft, it marked the first time Heisman winners went first overall in three straight years.

With Alabama 2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young returning for his redshirt sophomore year in 2022, this will mark the first Heisman-less NFL draft since 2017.

Here’s a historical breakdown of Heisman winners and the professional draft (NFL/AFL/USFL):

(table is scrollable)