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College football: Ranking the NFL careers of Heisman Trophy winners 1975-2005

By Nick Villano

Sep 1, 2018; South Bend, IN, USA; Tim Brown the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner poses with the Heisman Trophy at the Heisman House located outside Notre Dame Stadium before the Michigan Wolverines play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; South Bend, IN, USA; Tim Brown the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner poses with the Heisman Trophy at the Heisman House located outside Notre Dame Stadium before the Michigan Wolverines play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Andre Ware
Andre Ware (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Ranking NFL careers of Heisman winners: 26. Andre Ware, QB, Houston

Andre Ware is the first player on this list who had real expectations coming into the NFL. After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1989, and breaking 26 NCAA records in the process, the Detroit Lions were hoping they finally got their quarterback of the future. He was selected with the number-seven overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. He was paired with another player on this list, Barry Sanders.

Ware was a controversial pick from the start. It wasn’t because of off-the-field issues or anything like that, but there was a lot of disagreements of who the Lions should take at the top of the draft. The Lions scouting director resigned after the Lions picked Ware. Head coach Wayne Fontes made the pick, but it seemed like he never really gave Ware a chance to show himself at a time when the Lions had something to play for. He eventually lost his opportunity entirely and tried to make it work with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Ware, the first black quarterback to ever win the Heisman, never showed much in the NFL. He had serious expectations, but he never lived up to the hype. He’s now doing his best work as an analyst and color commentator for the Houston Texans and college football.

Something just didn’t click for Ware and the Lions. There is clearly blame on both sides, but Ware never seemed to get a handle on an offense that didn’t play to his exact strengths. His time in the NFL was short, and he didn’t make much of an impact, but if he went to a franchise that was more suited to him, he’d probably have a better chance of success.

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