The 2024 college football season is nearing its end, which means it’s just about time to award the Heisman Trophy to the nation’s best player. The Heisman is considered the most prestigious award in college football, and the winner is selected through a process of picks from sports journalists.
This year’s finalists represent a range of schools with winning records and — for three of them — playoff-bound teams: University of Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, University of Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, Boise State University running back Ashton Jeanty, and University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
The Heisman Trophy will be awarded on Saturday, December 14, 2024, and the ceremony will be broadcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.
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The Heisman Trophy can give a boost in pay for recipients entering the NFL.
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Who’s the likely winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy?
Odds are in favor of Colorado’s Hunter being awarded the trophy. Winning a Heisman offers opportunities, such as being a high overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and getting a lucrative salary.
Recent recipients have gone on to make millions of dollars in their rookie NFL season. Jayden Daniels (2023) and Caleb Williams (2022) are both first-year players and have both signed on to make around $25 million this season, which is significantly higher than the typical pay for NFL rookies.
The average annual salary of an NFL player is around $3 million, according to some reports.
How many active NFL players have won the Heisman?
There are 11 Heisman winners active in the NFL, and nine of them are quarterbacks. The earliest Heisman winner is Jameis Winston, who won in 2013 and is in his 10th year in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. The most recent winner is Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders.
Winston is experiencing a career resurgence with the Cleveland Browns, the third team he’s ever played for, and he has the potential to draw additional income from sponsorships.
Being a pitchman for companies can bring in millions of dollars for Heisman recipients, complementing their NFL salaries. Baker Mayfield (2017 recipient), for example, reportedly earns about $10 million a year for appearing in commercials for companies such as insurer Progressive.
While a rookie’s net worth might be low, the longer a Heisman winner plays in the NFL, the higher their career earnings and net worth can become. NFL teams recruiting Heisman winners typically anticipate their excellence on the field at the collegiate level to continue into the NFL.
Still, there’s no guarantee of making the Big Game. None of the active Heisman recipients have won a Super Bowl championship. The last Heisman winner to win a championship ring was 1997 recipient Charles Woodson, who played for the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV in 2011.
Heisman recipients in the NFL & their net worths
The following is a list of 10 active NFL players who were Heisman recipients, from lowest net worth to highest. Net worth data comes from various sources, including Forbes. Career earnings data were compiled by Over the Cap, which tracks players’ contracts with their NFL teams.
Jayden Daniels, #5 of the Washington Commanders
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Jayden Daniels
Heisman year, school, and position: 2023, LSU, QBNFL position and team: QB, Washington CommandersYears in NFL: 1Career earnings: $24.3 millionNet worth: $2 million
Caleb Williams, #18 of the Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams
Heisman year, school, and position: 2022, USC, QBNFL position and team: QB, Chicago BearsYears in NFL: 1Career earnings: $25.5 millionNet worth: $3.5 million
DeVonta Smith, #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles
Devonta Smith
Heisman year, school, and position: 2020, Alabama, WRNFL position and team: WR, Philadelphia EaglesYears in NFL: 4Career earnings: $37.1 millionNet worth: $5 million
Derrick Henry, #22 of the Baltimore Ravens
Derrick Henry
Heisman year, school, and position: 2015, Alabama, RBNFL position and team: RB, Baltimore RavensYears in NFL: 9Career earnings: $64.6 millionNet worth: $12 million
Related: NFL starting quarterback salaries 2024: Who makes the most?
Bryce Young, #9 of the Carolina Panthers
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Bryce Young
Heisman year, school, and position: 2021, Alabama, QBNFL position and team: QB, Carolina PanthersYears in NFL: 2Career earnings: $25.4 millionNet worth: $12 million
Baker Mayfield, #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield
Heisman year, school, and position: 2017, Oklahoma, QBNFL position and team: QB, Tampa Bay BuccaneersYears in NFL: 7Career earnings: $52.3 millionNet worth: $20 million – $25 million
Jameis Winston, #5 of the Cleveland Browns
Jameis Winston
Heisman year, school, and position: 2013, Florida State University, QBNFL position and team: QB, Cleveland BrownsYears in NFL: 10Career earnings: $75.1 millionNet worth: $22 million
Marcus Mariota, #0 of the Washington Commanders
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Marcus Mariota
Heisman year, school, and position: 2014, Oregon, QBNFL position and team: QB (backup), Washington CommandersYears in NFL: 10Career earnings: $71.1 millionNet worth: $23.9 million
More on NFL net worth:
Jameis Winston’s net worth: The Heisman-winning Browns QB’s wealth & salaryTom Brady’s net worth: A look inside the legendary quarterback’s wealthLamar Jackson’s net worth: How the Ravens’ QB became the NFL’s highest-paid player
Kyler Murray, #1 of the Arizona Cardinals
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Kyler Murray
Heisman year, school, and position: 2018, Oklahoma, QBNFL position and team: QB, Arizona CardinalsYears in NFL: 6Career earnings: $99.1 millionNet worth: $40 million
Lamar Jackson, #8 of the Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson
Heisman year, school, and position: 2016, Louisville, QBNFL position and team: QB, Baltimore RavensYears in NFL: 7Career earnings: $112.5 millionNet worth: $40 million – $100 million
Joe Burrow, #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals
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Joe Burrow
Heisman year, school, and position: 2019, LSU, QBNFL position and team: QB, Cincinnati BengalsYears in NFL: 5Career earnings: $76.2 millionNet worth: $50 million – $66 million
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