25 best NFL careers from Heisman Trophy winners

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Quarterback Cam Newton of the Auburn University Tigers speaks after being named the 76th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner at the Best Buy Theater on December 11, 2010 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for The Heisman) /

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10 Oct 1999: Quarterback Doug Flutie #7 of the Buffalo Bills in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills defeated the Steelers 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

22. Doug Flutie, QB, Boston College (1984)

Doug Flutie found himself in the thick of the Heisman race twice throughout his career with the Boston College Eagles. In the 1983 season, the quarterback finished third in the voting. It was the following year as he truly submitted his college masterpiece that he finally captured the award, though, throwing for 3,634 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while rushing for 379 yards and three touchdowns as well.

As a 5-foot-10 quarterback, though, Flutie wasn’t exactly a coveted NFL prospect. Thus, he wasn’t taken until the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Draft when the Los Angeles Rams finally took a shot on him. However, his NFL career was far from usual.

He first played a season in the USFL. Then, from 1986-89, he bounced from the Bears and Patriots and started just 14 games over four seasons. He went 9-5 as a starter and, overall, threw for 2,203 yards, 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over that span. With no footing truly gained in the NFL, though, he took off to the CFL in 1990, staying there until he came back with the Buffalo Bills in 1998.

Upon his return, Flutie earned Pro Bowl and Comeback Player of the Year honors in that 1998 season. Over the four seasons after his return to the NFL with the Bills and Chargers, Flutie started 46 games and went 26-20 in those games, throwing for 11,046 yards, 62 touchdowns and 48 interceptions as he reached 40 years old.

In truth, Flutie didn’t spend his prime in the NFL, which keeps him further down on this list. Had he not spent as long a time in the CFL, though, there’s a chance he could’ve cracked the top 20 easily.

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