First Black wins football's Heisman - African American Registry

Tue, 11.28.1961

First Black wins football’s Heisman

Ernie Davisaccepting trophy

On this date in 1961, Ernie Davis became the first Black man to win the Heisman Trophy.

This award is given to America’s most outstanding college football player. Playing for Syracuse University, Davis, a halfback, broke ten of Jim Brown's records and was a first- round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns.

Davis, nicknamed “The Elmira Express,” was stricken with leukemia, never played a professional game, and died in May of 1963.

Reference:
The Associated Press
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