The Heisman Trophy is the most prestigious award given to a college athlete for being “the most outstanding football player in the United States.” In 1998, Rickey Williams won the trophy and went on to become the #5 draft pick for the New Orleans Saints in 1999. Williams played with the team for three seasons until being drafted to the Miami Dolphins in 2002 and retiring the first time from football in 2004. Amidst drug use allegations, in 2006, Williams played internationally for the Toronto Argonauts, rejoined the Dolphins in 2007 and played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2011. He is now a football analyst for ESPN’s Longhorn network and has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 2014, Williams sold his Heisman to a memorabilia collector, Brian Hobbs who is now selling the trophy to fund his children’s college tuition. The current estimates suggest the trophy could sell for up to $500,000, breaking the auction record set last year when Tim Browns Heisman sold for $435,763. Adding to the value of Willams’ trophy, it will be the last Heisman sold at auction due to a new rule that requires recipients from 1999 onward, to sign away their right to sell the trophy.
