Harry Newman / 1932 Chicago Tribune Silver Football Trophy (Big Ten MVP)

Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago won both the Chicago Tribune Silver Football and the first ever Heisman Trophy. He considered the Silver Football more meaningful because it was awarded based on votes from Big Ten coaches who had firsthand experience watching and competing against him. In a 2002 Chicago Tribune article he recalled “When they called to tell me, I thought it was great (winning the Heisman), but the big award then was the Silver Football” which held more prestige at the time than the Heisman, then called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy.

Years ago, after acquiring Benny Friedman’s Silver Football Trophy (see blog post dated July 31, 2018), Jacob and I talked about the possibility of going after another Silver Football Trophy if they ever became available. Those of Red Grange, Harry Newman, Jay Berwanger, Nile Kinnick and Otto Graham topped the list.

Harry Newman followed in the footsteps of Benny Friedman in many ways, Friedman coming out of Cleveland, Newman out of Detroit, both strong runners, kickers and leaders on the field. Newman initially was not the passer Friedman was, but under Friedman’s mentoring over a summer at his football camp (Newman still in High School), Newman was to become an outstanding record setting passer as well, in college and the pros. They both played for the University of Michigan and went on to play in the NFL.

Some stats on Newman:

College Career (University of Michigan, 1930–1932)

•             National Champion (1932)

•             Unanimous All-American (1932)

•             Chicago Tribune Silver Football (1932) – Big Ten MVP

•             Douglas Fairbanks Trophy (1932) – Outstanding College Player of the Year (pre‑Heisman)

•             Helms Athletic Foundation Player of the Year (1932)

•             Two time first‑team All‑Big Ten (1930, 1932)

•             Second‑team All‑Big Ten (1931)

•             Led Michigan to a 24–1–2 record over three seasons, undefeated in 1932

•             Played 437 of 480 minutes in the 1932 season — an astounding workload

Professional Career (NFL & AFL)

•             NFL Champion (1934) – New York Giants

•             2× Second‑team All‑Pro (1933, 1934)

•             NFL Passing Yards Leader (1933) and the Giants leading rusher

•             NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader (1933)

•             Played for:

•             New York Giants (1933–1935)

•             Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers (1936–1937)

 In 1934 Newman set the NFL single game carries record, at 38, broken by OJ Simpson in 1973, with 39. Simpson was intentionally being fed the ball in order to break 1000 yards on the season in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

A large trophy with an early 1930s full sized silver football. A most significant artifact from that period.

This trophy was exhibited at the Michigan Football Centennial in 1979 (photo of the bottom of the trophy base).

               Jacob holding Friedman's Silver Football Trophy and I holding Newman's (Thanksgiving, 2025)