25 Heisman Trophy winners with the best NFL careers
By John Buhler
Mike Garrett
Running Back, USC Trojans (1965)
Mike Garrett was the running back that started it all with the USC Trojans. He would win the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a two-time All-American. Other great USC running backs like O.J. Simpson and Marcus Allen would go on to win the award. Garrett finished his USC career with 3,221 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns before turning pro.
He would get drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Draft and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFL Draft. Garrett spent his first 4.5 professional seasons with the Chiefs, helping them win Super Bowl IV in 1969. He was a two-time AFL All-Star, an All-AFL player and a two-time AFL champion while with Kansas City.
Garrett would play with the San Diego Chargers in the NFL from 1970 to 1973 before retiring. He would have 5,481 career rushing yards on 1,308 yards and 35 touchdowns. As a receiver, Garrett had 238 career catches for 2,101 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Overall, Garrett was a solid professional football player, helping make the Chiefs one of the best teams in the AFL before the merger. However, his professional career was only eight years long and his productivity waned once he played for San Diego. Garrett was not good enough to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in any capacity, but a good player though.