Archie Griffin

When he moved on to the NFL, his size kept him from dominating quite so handily. Though he would have a successful NFL career, his triumphs on the collegiate football fields will cement him as a standout figure in college lore forever. His name will always find a way into sports trivia as "the only man to win two Heismans."

When he retired from the Cincinnati Bengals in 1983, Griffin had a short stint playing football with the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League. He also tried his business skills by opening a shoe store chain with his brother, but both of these endeavors ultimately proved unsuccessful, and unfulfilling, for Griffin.

Soon after he left Ohio State University, Griffin wrote an inspirational autobiography, Archie: The Archie Griffin Story, that gave readers an inside look into Archie Griffin the man. In the book, he answers the question of, "Where did his tremendous inner-strength and determination come from?" He felt he owed the course of his character and personal discipline to Christ. Griffin had long been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and his place in the public eye and his articulate nature made him a sought-after motivational speaker both during and after his years with the Bengals.

His name is now forever linked to two Heisman Trophies, an accomplishment that will likely never be duplicated. Archie Griffin has proven his amazing skills on the football field, at both the collegiate and professional levels. But it is in his life after sports where he has made some of his greatest contributions. In his roles as goodwill ambassador for Ohio and in his responsibilities with Ohio State's athletic program-where he helps shape the lives of thousands of young people-Archie is leaving a legacy. Playing football gave Griffin fame, but his heart and courage allowed him to succeed in life.