The Only Heisman Recipient to Be Tackled by a US President, Quit NFL Despite Being the First Ever Pick

The early embers of the NFL have seen some of the best talents lost to history as time progresses. Not many remember the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner from over 90 years ago. That’s probably because he never set foot on the NFL and stamped his name on any of the franchises. Jay Berwanger won the first-ever ‘Downtown Athletic Club Trophy’ in 1935, later renamed the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

In a time period where the Great Depression swallowed countries whole, Berwanger was the name on every team’s list to sign. But the signing never took off, despite the baller going up against a future president.

NFL draft’s first-ever pick left POTUS with a bloody cut

Berwanger had been making waves even before he joined the NFL draft. Excelling at both track and football, Berwanger added wrestling to his list of skills while attending school back in Dubuque, Iowa. Joining Chicago on a $300 scholarship would allow him to continue football and go up against one of the future leaders of the country, Gerald Ford.

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In a game between Chicago and Michigan, the future POTUS, Gerald Ford tackled John Jacob Jay Berwanger in 1934. Ford played for Michigan at the time. Ford would be the one who came away with a bloody cut and he would wear the scar as a badge of honor later in his life. With the skills and achievements under his belt just after college, he would add to his list of achievements by becoming the first-ever NFL draft pick, etching his name in draft history. Many teams were keeping tabs on him as the first-ever NFL draft rolled around.

Signed by the Eagles, when it came down to negotiating terms, the Eagles decided against adding him to the roster. As the first-ever Heisman winner was asking for 25,000 over two years, which was believed to be too much. This paved the way for Berwanger to move on to his eventual job and made an impact when his country needed him.

John Jacob Jay Berwanger – Salesman & Naval officer

After the Eagles held out of contract negotiations, Berwanger would go on to nab a job as a foam-rubber salesman. After learning the trade of the rubber industry, the former first pick would go on to start his own company – Jaw Berwanger Inc. But it was after he would serve his country in the Second World War.

Back in the 1940s, Berwanger enlisted himself to fight the good fight as the USA joined to fight in the Second World War. He would join the country’s Naval efforts, became a Naval officer, and also trained others in his capacity as a flight instructor. Coming back from the war, Jay Berwanger Inc. took flight. He would go on to sell the company in the final decade of the millennium, which was grossing $30 million/year.

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Being the first-ever draft pick in the NFL is an achievement that can never be repeated. But to quit football altogether and lead his own company and join the army, Berwanger didn’t fulfill his NFL potential. He instead gave his best in other walks of life.