Ranking the top 10 Heisman Trophy winners who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Since the Heisman Trophy was first given out in 1935, recipients have attempted to continue their professional football careers with varying degrees of success.

Only a few Heisman Trophy winners can maintain their dominance in the NFL while also being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many players have demonstrated that they can continue to be as influential in the league as they were in college.

Here is a list of Heisman Trophy winners who are members of the Hall of Fame:

#10 Tim Brown

Tim Brown of the Los Angeles Raiders with his helmet aloft

Tim Brown, a wideout, starred for the Oakland Raiders from 1988 to 2003 after his senior year at Notre Dame. He subsequently played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.

In his final season at Notre Dame, Brown set a school record with 137 catches for 2,493 yards and 22 TDs. He received two All-American honors and became the first wideout to win the Heisman Trophy in 1987.

Brown retired from the league with 1,094 receptions (third most in NFL history), 14,934 receiving yards (second), and 100 touchdown receptions. He has the most games with at least two receptions in a row (147).

Among the 2015 class, Brown was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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#9 - Doak Walker

Doak Walker won the prestigious trophy in 1948

The 1948 Heisman Trophy winner was Doak Walker. He attended Southern Methodist University and played college football there. Although he only spent six seasons in the NFL, he was part of two championship squads and amassed enough stats to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Doak Walker played for the Detroit Lions from 1950 to 1955 and was a four-time All-Pro and twice set scoring records in the league. In 1959, the College Football Hall of Fame inducted him, and in 1986, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The award for the best running back in college football has been named after Doak Walker.

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#8 - Charles Woodson

Charles Wooden #24...

Charles Woodson joined the NFL as the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner. Primarily a defensive player, Woodson became the third player from Michigan to win the Heisman Trophy. He is also the only defender to have won the Heisman Trophy till now.

He was the number four choice overall in the 1998 draft. He was also one of the first four players from that first round to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

It was an unusual combo, but Woodson concluded his professional playing career with 65 interceptions and 20 sacks. Nobody else even had 15 sacks with 60 interceptions. Furthermore, no other player with 20 sacks had 55 interceptions. In 2018, the College Football Hall of Fame inducted him, and in 2021, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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#7 - Earl Campbell

A statue of Earl Campbell inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium

Earl Campbell was the first recipient of the Heisman Trophy from the University of Texas. In his senior year, he also received unanimous All-America recognition. He concluded his four seasons of collegiate football with 40 rushing touchdowns.

Throughout his eight-year career, Campbell was an NFL MVP, five-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team All-Pro, Bert Bell Award winner, and Offensive Player of the Year. He also won three first-team All-Pro awards. Following the 1985 season, Campbell retired from football after eight seasons. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

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#6 - Tony Dorsett

Tony Dorsett during Super Bowl XLI - On 3 Productions Gift Suite

Tony Dorsett, a running back from the University of Pittsburgh, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. He was the No. 2 overall choice in the 1977 NFL Draft. From 1977 to 1987, Dorsett played for Dallas, and in 1988, he played for the Denver Broncos.

He was elected a College Football Hall of Famer and a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 1994.

Dorsett appeared in 173 NFL games, running the ball on 2,936 occasions for 12,739 yards and scoring 77 rushing TDs.

In 1976, Dorsett became Pitt University's first Heisman Trophy winner. Being a four-time All-American, he also became the first player from the University of Pittsburgh to have his jersey (#33) retired.

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#5 - Paul Hornung

Louisville legend Paul Hornung

Paul Hornung played as a running back for Notre Dame and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956. He was selected first overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1957 NFL draft.

In addition to being drafted first overall, he was also the winner of the NFL MVP Award and an inductee of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Hornung is still the only athlete to have achieved these feats.

With the class of 1986, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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#4 - O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson won the trophy in 1968

After O.J. Simpson won the 1968 Heisman Trophy, the Buffalo Bills selected him as the number 1 overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft.

From 1969 to 1979, O.J. Simpson competed for 11 years in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. In 1983, the College Football Hall of Fame inducted him, and in 1985, the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He spent four seasons as the league's top rusher and participated in six Pro Bowls.

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#3 - Marcus Allen

Pro Football Hall of Fame member Marcus Allen talks on the Las Vegas Raiders' sideline before a game

After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1981, the University of Southern California running back Marcus Allen was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders as the 10th overall choice in the 1982 NFL Draft.

Marcus Allen amassed 145 TDs during his career, including a record 123 rushing touchdowns. He was selected for six Pro Bowls and contributed to the Raiders' Super Bowl XVIII victory while playing for them. In August 2003, he was admitted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Allen finished with an average of 5.2 yards per carry across his four years in college, with 4,664 rushing yards, 5,232 yards, and 46 scores. His #3 jersey has been retired by USC.

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#2 - Roger Staubach

Roger Staubach at Dallas Cowboys

While playing as a quarterback for the Navy in 1963, Roger Staubach earned the Heisman Trophy. Staubach accumulated a record 4,253 yards of total offense over his three years with the Navy.

His NFL career stats indicate 1,685 completions in 2,958 attempts. With an 83.4 career passer rating, Staubach left the NFL in March 1980 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame the following year.

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#1 - Barry Sanders

Former NFL Legend Barry Sanders has perfected the art of the Homegate and the Tostitos Stadium Sofa takes viewing parties to the next level on August 31, 2018

While starring for Oklahoma State in 1988, Barry Sanders earned the Heisman Trophy. Sanders starred for the Detroit Lions from 1989 to 1998 after being selected as the third overall choice in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Lions.

He broke the season record for college football with 2,628 yards of running, 37 rushing TDs, and 39 total TDs.

Sanders surprisingly left the NFL in 1998, at 31, while still playing at the top level. Four times, he was the NFL's leading rusher. In 1997, he received the NFL MVP vote. In 2004, Sanders became an inductee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.