25 Heisman Trophy winners with the best NFL careers
By John Buhler
Ricky Williams
Running Back, Texas Longhorns (1998)
Running back Ricky Williams was so good in college for the Texas Longhorns that former New Orleans Saints head coach Mike Ditka was willing to give up the farm to draft the 1998 Heisman winner fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. However, that proved to be one of the worst front office moves in NFL history.
Williams only spent three years in The Big Easy before being traded to the Miami Dolphins. In 2002, Williams had his best season as a professional, where he made his lone trip to the Pro Bowl and earned an All-Pro nod.
However, Williams’ NFL career was marred by anxiety and drug suspensions. He missed the 2004 and 2006 NFL seasons. Williams would return to Miami in 2007 and play there until 2010 as a good, but not great NFL running back.
He would finish his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011, where he eclipsed the impressive 10,000 career rushing yards threshold. Williams retired with 10,009 rushing yards for 66 touchdowns. He also had 2,606 receiving yards and eight career touchdown catches. While the 10,000 yards is impressive, you never really knew what you were getting out of Williams most years. He was a great player when he wanted to be.