Jay Berwanger facts for kids
Berwanger at the University of Chicago early 1930s
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| No. 99 | |
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| Position | Halfback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 19, 1914 Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died: | June 26, 2002 (aged 88) Oak Brook, Illinois, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
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| High school | Dubuque |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| College Football Hall of Fame (1954) | |
John Jacob "Jay" Berwanger (born March 19, 1914 – died June 26, 2002) was a famous American college football player. He made history in 1935 by becoming the very first person to win the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy. This award was later renamed the Heisman Trophy, which is a huge honor in college football. At first, the award was for the "most valuable player east of the Mississippi River."
In 1936, Jay Berwanger was also the first player ever picked in the National Football League (NFL) draft. Even though he was drafted, he never played professionally. This was because he and the team couldn't agree on how much he should be paid.
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Jay Berwanger's College Football Career
Jay Berwanger went to Dubuque Senior High School in Iowa. After high school, he played college football for the Chicago Maroons football team at the University of Chicago. He played for three seasons, from 1933 to 1935.
During his time at Chicago, he scored 22 touchdowns in 24 games. He was an amazing halfback and was often called the "one-man football team." Back then, players usually played both offense and defense. So, Jay was also a linebacker and a return specialist. People also nicknamed him "the Flying Dutchman" and "the Man in the Iron Mask." He got the second nickname because he wore a special face guard to protect his nose, which he had broken twice.
Big Awards and Famous Moments
Jay Berwanger won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award. This award was for the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference. He was also chosen as an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.
In a game in 1934, Jay Berwanger played against the Michigan Wolverines. During that game, he tackled Michigan's center, Gerald Ford. Jay's tackle left a small scar under Ford's left eye. Years later, Gerald Ford became a U.S. president!
In 1935, Jay Berwanger received the first-ever Downtown Athletic Club Trophy. The next year, this trophy was renamed the Heisman Trophy. It was named after John Heisman, who was the club's athletic director. After Heisman passed away, the award became a national honor.
Beyond Football: Track and Field
Besides football, Jay Berwanger was also a talented athlete in track and field at the University of Chicago. In 1936, he set a school record in the decathlon. A decathlon is a competition where athletes compete in ten different track and field events. His record stood for a very long time, until 2007!
His Heisman-Winning Season (1935)
In the 1935 football season, when Jay Berwanger won the award that would become the Heisman Trophy, he had an amazing year. He ran for 577 yards and passed for 405 yards. He also returned kickoffs for 359 yards.
He scored six touchdowns and added five extra points, giving him a total of 41 points for the season. His team, the Chicago Maroons, finished the season with four wins and four losses. When people voted for the award, Jay Berwanger received 84 votes. He got 43% of all the votes.
Life After College Football
In 1936, Jay Berwanger became the very first player ever chosen in the National Football League (NFL) draft. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him first. However, they thought his salary demands were too high. He reportedly wanted $1,000 per game.
So, the Eagles traded his rights to the Chicago Bears. But Jay Berwanger decided not to sign with the Bears either. One reason was that he wanted to keep his amateur status. This would allow him to try out for the U.S. team for the 1936 Summer Olympics in the decathlon.
Negotiations and New Paths
After he didn't make the Olympic team, Jay Berwanger and the Bears' owner, George Halas, couldn't agree on a salary. Jay asked for $15,000, but Halas's final offer was $13,500. Jay decided not to play professional football.
Instead, he took a job at a rubber company in Chicago. He also became a part-time coach at the University of Chicago. Later in his life, Jay said he wished he had accepted George Halas's offer to play for the Bears.
To stay active in sports, Jay Berwanger started playing rugby for a Chicago team. His team won 19 games in a row and even won a national championship! In 2016, Jay Berwanger was honored by being inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame.
Later Life and Special Honors
After college, Jay Berwanger worked for a short time as a sportswriter. Later, he became a successful manufacturer of plastic car parts. He was a very humble person about his famous Heisman Trophy. He wasn't sure what to do with it, so he left it with his aunt Gussie. She actually used it as a doorstop!
The trophy was later given to the University of Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame, where it is now on display. There is also a copy of the Heisman Trophy at Dubuque Senior High School in Dubuque, Iowa, in the trophy case. Jay Berwanger is a member of both the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
Jay Berwanger passed away on June 26, 2002, at the age of 88. He died at his home in Oak Brook, Illinois, after a long illness.
