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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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 29: Alex Karras #71 of the Detroit Lions tries to make a play on John David Crow #44 of the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game at Kezar Stadium October 29, 1967 in San Francisco, California. Karras played for Lions from 1959-62 and 1964-70. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

20. John David Crow, HB, Texas A&M (1957)

The numbers that players put up in modern college football can often skew our perception of some of the players of many years ago. Simply put, the game was played differently and the offense was not the king as it is today. That was the case when John David Crow won the Heisman Trophy in 1957 with 1929 carries for 562 yards and six touchdowns.

Crow’s production with the Texas A&M Aggies had NFL teams coveting him and he was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 1958 draft by the Chicago Cardinals. He played in only seven games as a rookie and toted the ball only 52 times for 221 yards and two touchdowns, but made an impact elsewhere with 20 receptions for 362yards and three touchdowns.

When the Cardinals moved to St. Louis for the 1960 season, after having made the Pro Bowl in Chicago the previous year. Crow enjoyed the best season of his career. In 12 games, the former Aggie rushed for 1,071 yards on 183 carries and scored six touchdowns, while also amassing 462 receiving yards and three touchdowns through the air. Moreover, he scored 14 rushing touchdowns in the 1962 season.

On the whole, Crow played 11 NFL seasons in his career, rushing for 4,963 yards and 38 touchdowns while also garnering 3,699 receiving yards and 35 receiving scores. Though he wasn’t overly prolific, he was a fantastic dual-threat halfback able to make an impact for many years in the league.

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