Johnny Manziel flashed his trademark money sign the night he talked himself into the Browns' draft plans.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
When University of Colorado two-way “unicorn” Travis Hunter is selected by the Browns with the second overall pick of the draft on Thursday, he will become the fourth Heisman Trophy winner drafted by the Browns.
Another seven Heisman winners joined the Browns later in their NFL careers.
Unfortunately, Heisman winners have not fared well for the Browns, although two of them led them to the playoffs for one season.
Here is a look at the history of Heisman Trophy winners and the Browns.
1. Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, Ohio State, running back
Won Heisman: 1956.
Drafted: First round, 3rd overall, by Detroit Lions in 1955.
Joined Browns: Signed as a free agent in 1962.
Analysis: Cassady appeared in five games without registering a single statistic on his record. He also played five games with the Eagles before returning to the Lions to conclude his eight-year career in 1963.
2. Ernie Davis, Syracuse, running back
Won Heisman: 1961.
Drafted: First round, 1st overall, by Washington Redskins in 1962.
Joined Browns: Acquired in trade in 1962 for receiver/running back Bobby Mitchell and halfback Leroy Jackson.
Analysis: The first African-American to win the Heisman, Davis played an unwitting and controversial role in Browns history. The trade was made by coach Paul Brown without the knowledge of young owner Art Modell. The move infuriated Modell and created a rift that only widened over time. Davis was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after joining the Browns. During a brief remission of the disease, Modell urged Brown to suit up Davis to give him the thrill of being back on the field. Brown resisted, worsening their relationship beyond repair. Brown ultimately allowed Davis to be introduced in uniform at a preseason game in Cleveland Stadium. Davis never played a down and died in May of 1963 – four months after Modell had fired Brown. Davis’ jersey No. 45 was retired by the Browns.
3. Charles White, USC, running back
Won Heisman: 1979.
Joined Browns: Drafted first round, 27th overall, by the Browns in 1980.
Analysis: After rushing for 2,050 yards his final season at USC, White never gained more than 342 yards in four years with the Browns. During his time, he admitted to a cocaine problem and became the first player publicly identified in the Inner Circle, the pioneering self-help, voluntary program established by coach Sam Rutigliano to counsel and treat players with addiction issues. After the Browns released White in 1985, he reunited with college coach John Robinson with the Rams and found greater success, despite another bout with addiction, topping out with a 1,374-yard rushing season in 1987. White died of liver cancer in 2023.
4. Vinny Testaverde, Miami, quarterback
Won Heisman: 1986.
Drafted: First round, 1st overall, in 1987 by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Joined Browns: Signed as free agent in 1993.
Analysis: A former college teammate of Bernie Kosar, Testaverde was the quarterback that coach Bill Belichick turned to when he fired Kosar in the middle of the 1993 season because of “diminished skills.” Ironically, Kosar had taken a pay cut in the 1993 offseason to help the Browns have funds to buy offensive support in free agency; they used it on his eventual replacement. Testaverde did lead the Browns to an 11-5 record and playoff victory over Bill Parcells’ Patriots in 1994, somewhat validating Belichick’s highly controversial move on Kosar. But his success was short-lived. Belichick benched him in 1995 for rookie Eric Zeier. Testaverde followed the relocated Browns team to Baltimore in 1996, then joined the Jets. At the age of 35, Testaverde had his best season for coach Bill Parcells, going 12-1 as the starter and leading the Jets to the AFC Championship Game, which they lost to the Broncos. Testaverde retired in 2008 at the age of 45 after passing for more than 46,000 yards with seven NFL teams over 21 seasons.
5. Ty Detmer, Brigham Young, quarterback
Won Heisman: 1990.
Drafted: Ninth round, 230th overall, in 1992 by Green Bay Packers.
Joined Browns: Acquired in trade from San Francisco 49ers for a fifth-round pick and swap of fourth-round picks.
Analysis: Detmer was Browns President Carmen Policy’s hand-picked choice to open the 1999 expansion season at quarterback and eventually mentor No. 1 draft pick Tim Couch. That idea lasted one game. After a disastrous debut in the expansion team’s inaugural game against the Steelers, Detmer was benched by coach Chris Palmer. Detmer suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the 2000 preseason and never played again for the Browns. New coach Butch Davis traded him in 2001 to the Detroit Lions for a fourth-round draft pick. In his first start for the Lions, Detmer returned to Cleveland to play against the Browns and was intercepted seven times. Detmer eventually returned to his alma mater at Brigham Young as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Today he’s a high school coach in Arizona.
6. Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, running back
Won Heisman: 1994.
Drafted: First round, 21st overall, in 1995 by the Chicago Bears.
Joined Browns: Signed in 1999.
Analysis: Salaam peaked with a 1,000-yard season as a Bears rookie. He eventually was released after problems with injuries and drug use. After two years out of the NFL, he joined the Browns in their expansion season and appeared in two games with 1 rushing attempt for 2 yards. It was his last NFL season. He died in 2016 at the age of 42. The death was ruled a suicide by the Boulder (CO) County’s coroner office.
7. Robert Griffin III, Baylor quarterback
Won Heisman: 2011.
Drafted: First round, 2nd overall, in 2012 by Washington Redskins.
Joined Browns: Signed as a free agent in 2016.
Analysis: After injuries curtailed Griffin’s career in Washington, he was tabbed by first-year coach Hue Jackson as Browns starting QB after the team passed on the chance to draft Carson Wentz and traded the second overall pick to Philadelphia. Griffin promptly suffered a shoulder injury in his first game, ironically, against Wentz and the Eagles. Griffin wound up starting five more games, winning one, in a 1-15 season. He then spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before transitioning well into a TV analyst role.
8. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, quarterback
Won Heisman: 2012.
Drafted: First round, 22nd overall, in 2014 by Browns.
Analysis: Undersized and addicted to controversy, “Johnny Football” talked the Browns into saving his draft-night free-fall when he urged offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains to select him so that he and the Browns could “wreck this league.” After owner Jimmy Haslam approved the move, which required a trade up, the Browns were selling Manziel jerseys off their official team Website by the next morning. Manziel’s starting debut was delayed until Game 14 because home-town QB Brian Hoyer had the Browns rolling to a surprising 6-3 start. Manziel’s drinking and addiction problems, which were commonly reported during his college career, contributed to his rapid demise in Cleveland. A shoulder injury at the start of his second season sent him spiralling. He wound up winning two of six career starts. The Browns released him after his second season after he missed an injury rehab session prior to the team’s last game and was spotted playing poker in a Las Vegas casino while trying to conceal his identity with a wig and glasses. Manziel later had failed stints with three different professional football leagues.
9. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, quarterback
Won Heisman: 2017.
Drafted: First round, 1st overall, in 2018 by the Browns.
Analysis: GM John Dorsey’s controversial choice as the Browns’ franchise quarterback had a smashing debut in relief of injured starter Tyrod Taylor when he led the Browns to a comeback victory over the Jets in a Week 3 game, halting a 19-game winless streak that spanned an agonizing 645 days. Mayfield immediately was anointed the most popular athlete in town. Though wins came tougher his second season, Mayfield became the first Browns QB since 2001 to start every game of a season. In his third year, Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002 and their first road playoff win since 1969 – in Pittsburgh, to boot. And that was as good as it got. Mayfield’s fourth season went sideways when he tried to play through a partially torn labrum injury in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. During the season, a video posted on social media by the father of receiver Odell Beckham Jr. criticized Mayfield for intentionally keeping the ball away from Beckham. It damaged Mayfield’s support in the locker room and with fans. He declined to play in the last game after suffering nine sacks in a 26-14 drubbing in Pittsburgh. Unbeknownst to anyone, throughout the second half of the season the Browns were secretly vetting the eventuality of pursuing idled Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson as Mayfield’s replacement. A national report quoted an unidentified Browns source as saying the club needed “an adult in the room.” Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers after the season and eventually found a new home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom he led to the NFC playoffs in 2023 and 2024.
10. Jameis Winston, Florida State, quarterback
Won Heisman: 2013.
Drafted: First round, 1st overall, in 2015 by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Joined Browns: Signed as a free agent in 2024.
Analysis: Winston was signed to replace Joe Flacco as backup to Deshaun Watson because the Browns feared Flacco’s immense popularity would undermine Watson’s third attempt to establish himself as Browns “franchise quarterback.” Winston played the good soldier role and eventually took over when Watson suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Watson won two of seven starts – against division rivals Baltimore Pittsburgh – but was doomed by 12 interceptions in 296 pass attempts, including three Pick 6’s. Winston’s time was marked by comical press conferences and inspiring pre-game hypes sessions, which endeared him to teammates and fans. After throwing two Pick 6’s in a loss in Denver, Winston fell on his sword and asked the Lord to “deliver me from Pick 6’s.” He was not re-signed after the season and joined the New York Giants.