Chicago Tribune Silver Football


The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the Chicago Tribune to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient. In 2022, the Chicago Tribune announced a new partnership with the Union League Club of Chicago, where it is currently housed.
A vote of Big Ten head football coaches determines the winner of the Silver Football. Each coach submits a two-player ballot with a first and second choice, and coaches cannot vote for players on their own team. The first-place vote receives two points and the second-place vote receives one point.
Coaches and media of the Big Ten also make annual selections for additional individual honors.

Recipients

The Silver Football award has been presented annually since 1924.
YearPlayerTeamPositionNotes
1924Red GrangeIllinoisHB
1925Tim LowryNorthwesternC
1926Benny FriedmanMichiganQB
1927Ken RouseChicagoC
1928Chuck BennettIndianaHB
1929Bill GlassgowIowaHB
1930Wes FeslerOhio StateTEOhio State head coach
1931Biggie MunnMinnesotaG/FBMichigan State head coach
1932Harry NewmanMichiganQB
1933Joe LawsIowaQB
1934Pug LundMinnesotaHB
1935Jay BerwangerChicagoHBHeisman Trophy winner
1936Vern HuffmanIndianaHB/QBAll-American in football and basketball
1937Corbett DavisIndianaFB
1938Howard WeissWisconsinFB
1939Nile KinnickIowaHBHeisman Trophy winner
1940Tom HarmonMichiganHBHeisman Trophy winner
1941Jack GrafOhio StateQB/FB
1942Dave SchreinerWisconsinTEKilled in action during World War II
1943Otto GrahamNorthwesternQBWashington Redskins head coach, NFL MVP
1944Les HorvathOhio StateHB/QBHeisman Trophy winner
1945Ollie ClineOhio StateFB
1946Alex AgaseIllinoisGNorthwestern head coach, Purdue head coach
1947Bump ElliottMichiganHBMichigan head coach
1948Art MurakowskiNorthwesternFB
1949Red WilsonWisconsinTE
1950Vic JanowiczOhio StateHBHeisman Trophy winner
1951Bill ReichardtIowaFB
1952Paul GielMinnesotaHB
1953Paul GielMinnesotaHBFirst two-time winner, UPI Player of the Year
1954Alan AmecheWisconsinFBHeisman Trophy winner, UPI Player of the Year
1955Ohio StateHBHeisman Trophy winner, UPI Player of the Year, AP Male Athlete of the Year
1956Ken PloenIowaQB
1957Jim PaceMichiganHB
1958Randy DuncanIowaQB
1959Bill BurrellIllinoisG
1960Tom BrownMinnesotaG/DL
1961Sandy StephensMinnesotaQB
1962Ron Vander KelenWisconsinQB
1963Dick ButkusIllinoisLBTwo-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year
1964Bob TimberlakeMichiganQB
1965Jim GrabowskiIllinoisRB
1966Bob GriesePurdueQBNFL MVP
1967Leroy KeyesPurdueRB
1968Ron JohnsonMichiganRB
1969Mike PhippsPurdueQB
1970Mike AdamleNorthwesternRB
1971Eric AllenMichigan StateRB
1972Otis ArmstrongPurdueRB
1973Archie GriffinOhio StateRB
1974Archie GriffinOhio StateRBHeisman Trophy winner, UPI Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year
1975Cornelius GreeneOhio StateQB
1976Rob LytleMichiganRB
1977Larry BetheaMichigan StateDE
1978Rick LeachMichiganQB
1979Tim CliffordIndianaQB
1980Mark HerrmannPurdueQB
1981Art SchlichterOhio StateQBAFL MVP
1982Anthony CarterMichiganWRFirst wide receiver to win the award
1983Don ThorpIllinoisDL
1984Keith ByarsOhio StateRB
1985Chuck LongIowaQBSan Diego State head coach
1986Jim HarbaughMichiganQBNFL Coach of the Year, Michigan head coach
1987Lorenzo WhiteMichigan StateRB
1988Anthony ThompsonIndianaRB
1989Anthony ThompsonIndianaRB
1990Nick BellIowaRB
1991Desmond HowardMichiganWRHeisman Trophy winner, UPI Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, Super Bowl MVP
1992Lee GissendanerNorthwesternWR
1993Brent MossWisconsinRB
1994Kerry CollinsPenn StateQB
1995Eddie GeorgeOhio StateRBHeisman Trophy winner
1996Orlando PaceOhio StateOT
1997Charles WoodsonMichiganCBHeisman Trophy winner, NFL Defensive Player of the Year
1998Joe GermaineOhio StateQB
1999Ron DayneWisconsinRBHeisman Trophy winner, NCAA all-time leading rusher, AP Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year
2000Drew BreesPurdueQBSuper Bowl MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, AP Male Athlete of the Year, Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, Walter Payton Man of the Year
2001Antwaan Randle ElIndianaQB
2002Brad BanksIowaQBAP Player of the Year
2003Chris PerryMichiganRB
2004Braylon EdwardsMichiganWR
2005Michael RobinsonPenn StateQB
2006Troy SmithOhio StateQBHeisman Trophy winner, AP Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year
2007Rashard MendenhallIllinoisRB
2008Shonn GreeneIowaRB
2009Daryll ClarkPenn StateQB
2009Brandon GrahamMichiganDE
2010Denard RobinsonMichiganQB
2011Montee BallWisconsinRB
2012Braxton MillerOhio StateQB
2013Braxton MillerOhio StateQB
2014Melvin GordonWisconsinRB
2015Ezekiel ElliottOhio StateRB
2016J. T. BarrettOhio StateQB
2016Saquon BarkleyPenn StateRB
2017Saquon BarkleyPenn StateRB
2018Dwayne HaskinsOhio StateQB
2019Chase YoungOhio StateDEBig Ten Male Athlete of the Year, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
2020Justin FieldsOhio StateQB
2021Aidan HutchinsonMichiganDE
2022Blake CorumMichiganRB
2023Marvin Harrison Jr.Ohio StateWR
2024Dillon GabrielOregonQB
2025Fernando MendozaIndianaQB