Fansided

25 Heisman Trophy winners with the best NFL careers

By John Buhler

DETROIT - DECEMBER 23: Barry Sanders smiles from the sideline during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions on December 23, 2007 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo byGregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT - DECEMBER 23: Barry Sanders smiles from the sideline during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions on December 23, 2007 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo byGregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 12: George Rogers No. 38 of the New Orleans Saints carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium December 12, 1982 in Atlanta, Georgia. Rogers played for the Saints from 1981-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 12: George Rogers No. 38 of the New Orleans Saints carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium December 12, 1982 in Atlanta, Georgia. Rogers played for the Saints from 1981-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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George Rogers

Running Back, South Carolina Gamecocks (1980)

Running back George Rogers remains the greatest player in the history of South Carolina Gamecocks football history nearly 40 years since he won the Heisman in 1980. Rogers would be taken No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1981 NFL Draft.

For a while there, Rogers looked to be a superstar in the Saints backfield. He was an All-Pro as a rookie in 1981, making back-to-back Pro Bowls his first two years in the league. However, his prime was not for very long. Ankle injuries and substance abuse issues had the Saints replace him in 1984 with former Heisman winner Earl Campbell.

Rogers would spend his final three NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins. There, he would make his third and final trip to the Pro Bowl in 1986. Rogers was part of the 1987 Redskins team that won the Super Bowl. He would retire at the end of the 1987 season due to ankle injuries.

Overall, Rogers rushed for 7,176 career yards and 54 touchdowns. He was not much of a pass catcher out of the backfield with just 368 career receiving yards. Rogers’ hall of fame candidacy isn’t there because he didn’t play long enough. At times, he was on pace to make it to Canton, but ultimately came up short.

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