Former NFL player Reggie Bush has his Heisman Trophy back following “fundamental changes in college athletics” after he forfeited it 14 years ago due to NCAA sanctions at the time for the University of Southern California.
On Wednesday, the Heisman Trust officially reinstated the former USC star’s 2005 Heisman Trophy, along with sending a replica to USC, ESPN reported.
Bush will also now be invited to participate in all Heisman Trophy ceremonies starting this year. In 2010, Bush gave up his famed trophy due to sanctions against the university, which included that Bush had received improper benefits while he was a student-athlete between 2003 and 2005.
“Welcome Home! We are reinstating the 2005 Heisman Trophy to the University of Southern California’s Reggie Bush!” the post from the official page for the Heisman Trophy read.
“In 2005, Bush gained more than 2000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns,” it added. “He received 784 first-place votes, the fifth-most in Heisman Trophy history, while leading USCFB to a national title berth. Welcome back to the Heisman Family, Reggie!”
Welcome Home!
We are reinstating the 2005 Heisman Trophy to the University of Southern California’s @ReggieBush!
In 2005, Bush gained more than 2000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns. He received 784 first-place votes, the fifth-most in Heisman Trophy history, while… pic.twitter.com/34oCD7P8CY
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) April 24, 2024
Bush also reacted to the news and told ESPN in a statement, “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. I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization.”
President of the Heisman Trophy Trust, Michael Comerford, said that “we are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments.”
“We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie,” he added. “We are so happy to welcome him back.”
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The decision from the Heisman Trust came after it said it underwent a “deliberative process” to monitor what it called the “fundamental changes in college athletics” in which rules that have allowed “student athlete compensation” to become “an accepted practice” appear “here to stay,” ESPN noted.
In 2021, NCAA rules changed to allow athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness, as previously reported.
Following the change in rules, professional football players threw their support behind Bush to get his 2005 trophy back. One such athlete was former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel.
On Wednesday, Manziel took to social media and wrote, “Thank you to the Heisman Trophy for doing what’s right and welcoming a storied member of our history back into the fold.”
“There were many voices throughout this process that stood on the table for Reggie simply because of the kind of human being he is,” he added. “I look forward to being on that stage with you this December Reggie Bush you deserve it.”
