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Newly-crowned Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana returns to the Heisman Trophy Podcast to share what it was like to win the most prestigious individual award in American sports. Mendoza reflects on the achievement, the significance of the Heisman name, and the responsibilities that come with it. He shares insights about his journey, the support from teammates and family, and how he plans to navigate fame and public attention. Mendoza emphasizes the importance of mentorship and giving back, as well as his plans for the trophy itself. After Mendoza, we have a great chat with legendary broadcaster and friend of the Heisman, Neil Everett, who confesses to getting a lump in his throat during Mendoza's acceptance speech. We close with Bob Seidel, the executive director of Beat the Streets NYC, an organization on a mission to develop the full human and athletic potential of New York City urban youth...through wrestling.

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The Heisman Trophy Podcast streams every Wednesday during the college football season and is hosted produced, edited and engineered by Chris Huston. The pod is available on all streaming networks, including Spotify and Apple Music, and features video interviews and bonus content on YouTube and TikTok. We also have a reddit community.

Email us at pod@heisman.com for feedback and inquiries.

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It's beginning to to look a lot like Heisman and the trophy's official podcast is here to ring in the season proper. We've got four finalists set to come to New York City for the 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony: Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Ohio State's Julian Sayin. Kick off the festivities by taking a walk down memory lane as we tell the history of the Heisman ceremony itself, which evolved from a humble luncheon in 1935, to a variety shows starring Farrah Fawcett and Elliott Gould in 1977, to the format on ABC we know and love today. Hall of Fame sportscaster Don Criqui recalls his long tenure as emcee of the Heisman gala. And to close things out, former Presidential speechwriter and current The Atlantic magazine writer David Frum shares with us his thoughts on three of the most famous acceptance speeches in Heisman history: Nile Kinnick's in 1939, Bruce Smith's in 1941 and John Cappelletti's in 1973.

Support the show

The Heisman Trophy Podcast streams every Wednesday during the college football season and is hosted produced, edited and engineered by Chris Huston. The pod is available on all streaming networks, including Spotify and Apple Music, and features video interviews and bonus content on YouTube and TikTok. We also have a reddit community.

Email us at pod@heisman.com for feedback and inquiries.

Send us a text

In this week's episode, we talk to 2025 Heisman Humanitarian Award winner Larry Fitzgerald, a legendary wide out for Pittsburgh who finished as Heisman runner up in 2003 before going on to a storied NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals.

Fitzgerald shares insights into his philanthropic efforts through his Larry Fitzgerald Foundation, which focuses on youth education and breast cancer awareness. He emphasizes the importance of bridging the digital divide for underserved youth and reflects on his global humanitarian experiences. The conversation also touches on his football career, legacy, and the impact of his work in the community.

The Heisman is more than a trophy. It's also a charitable foundation that distributes millions in donations every year to worthy causes that help underserved communities. The Heisman Humanitarian Award recognizes figures in the sports world who have distinguished records in this area.

Support the show

The Heisman Trophy Podcast streams every Wednesday during the college football season and is hosted produced, edited and engineered by Chris Huston. The pod is available on all streaming networks, including Spotify and Apple Music, and features video interviews and bonus content on YouTube and TikTok. We also have a reddit community.

Email us at pod@heisman.com for feedback and inquiries.