Reggie Bush, a former USC running back, is having his Heisman Trophy returned to him following the decision of the Heisman Trust on Wednesday.
The 2005 Heisman champion, who rushed for more than 1,700 yards and made 18 touchdowns during his Heisman-winning season, had previously lost the trophy due to an NCAA investigation that discovered Bush and his family had received forbidden benefits while he was at the university.
This happened before the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college sports, and the current state of collegiate athletics influenced the Heisman Trust’s choice.
“We are excited to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman group in acknowledgment of his achievements in college,” stated Michael Comerford, President of The Heisman Trophy Trust, said in an official announcement on the organization’s website. “We took into account the significant changes in college athletics over the past few years when deciding that now is the appropriate time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We are delighted to have him back.”
Bush spent three years at USC, becoming one of the PAC-12’s all-time leaders in yards from scrimmage and a 2023 College Football Hall of Fame inductee. During the 2005 season, he also won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back, was named AP Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, and PAC-10 Player of the Year, and was a consensus All-American.
He was drafted second overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft and played 11 seasons in the NFL with New Orleans, Miami, Detroit, San Francisco, and Buffalo.
Because of the NCAA’s previous penalties, Bush was no longer formally acknowledged as the 2005 Heisman champion and was not included in events with his fellow winners, like the annual Heisman Trophy Presentation Ceremony. That will all change after reinstatement.
“Personally, I’m thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I’m honored to return to the Heisman family,” Bush told ESPN. “I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization.”
Several fans, media pundits, and athletes praised the Heisman Trophy Trust’s decision on social media, including former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2012.
“Thank you to the @HeismanTrophy for doing what’s right and welcoming a storied member of our history back into the fold,” Manziel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “There were many voices throughout this process that stood on the table for Reggie simply because of the kind of human being he is. I look forward to being on that stage with you this December @ReggieBush you deserve it.”
