By Mark Gray
12:00pm PDT, Apr 28, 2024
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The Heisman Trophy is coming back to Reggie Bush.
The University of Southern California legend won college football's top prize in 2005, but he was forced to forfeit it in 2010 after the NCAA determined that Reggie received improper benefits during his time with the Trojans, which spanned from 2003 to 2005.
The sports world has universally clamored for the Heisman Trust to reinstate the trophy since 2021, when the NCAA started allowing players to be compensated for use of their name, image and likeness. Several former Heisman winners have publicly supported Reggie — who retired from the NFL in 2017 — and shunned Heisman-related events to show solidarity with the former running back.
"Recognizing that the compensation of student athletes is an accepted practice and appears here to stay, these fundamental changes in college athletics led the Trust to decide that now is the right time to return the trophy to Bush, who unquestionably was the most outstanding college football player of 2005," the Heisman Trophy Trust explained.
In a statement to ESPN, Reggie said, "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."
Click through to see how NFL and college football greats are publicly reacting to the news on social media and elsewhere…
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"Thank you to the @HeismanTrophy 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. I look forward to being on that stage with you this December @ReggieBush you deserve it" —Johnny Manziel
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"LFG!! @ReggieBush" –Reggie Bush's former Trojans teammate Matt Leinart
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"Reggie Bush will rightfully get his Heisman Trophy back. This is the right move and I'm happy that they finally made this decision" —Pat McAfee
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"I am so thankful to see this finally happen. @ReggieBush you always were and forever will be a @HeismanTrophy brother!" —Tony Dorsett
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"Back where it belongs — @ReggieBush's 2005 Heisman Memorial Trophy has officially been reinstated by the Heisman Trophy Trust. Welcome back to the Heisman family, Reggie!" —USC Football
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"This is sooooo awesome!!! Finally. #BestEver @ReggieBush @uscfb" —Lane Kiffin, who coached the USC Trojans
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"About time. Congrats, bro @ReggieBush" —Shawne Merriman
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"Reggie Bush is one of the greatest football players to ever grace a college football field. Ever. He's one of the best we've ever seen. He captivated an entire nation, and nothing that happened to Reggie Bush's family, nothing that they think Reggie Bush was given had to do with what that man did on the football field. He deserves to not only have his trophy, he deserves to be a part of everything all of those other players get. He deserves to be a part of every ceremony, he deserves to be a part of every commercial. He deserves to have his name mentioned amongst the greats that have played our game… More than anything, there has to be some relief that something he earned is back in his possession." —Ryan Clark, via Get Up
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"Congrats @ReggieBush, you were the most electrifying player in college football history, well deserved" —former USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley
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"So happy the Heisman Trust did the right thing by giving @ReggieBush his trophy back. The best college game I witnessed as a high school player was on my OV against Fresno State." —CJ Spiller
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"About time! Love to see it @ReggieBush!" —Matt Cassel
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"Reggie Bush got his Heisman Trophy Back. You LOVE to see it." —Robert Griffin III
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"Reggie Bush got his Heisman back… about time!!!" —Chase Daniel
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"Finally some justice for Reggie Bush" —Emmanuel Acho
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"Long overdue" —Mike Greenberg, via Get Up
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The Detroit Lions posted a photo of Reggie Bush with three hand-clap emojis.
