ATLANTA, Ga. (WALB) - On this day in October 23, 1869, American football icon John Heisman was born.

He launched a career that would leave an indelible mark on college football and Georgia sports history.

The man whose name graces college football’s most prestigious award coached the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the early 1900s. Heisman led Tech to its first national championship in 1917 and guided the team to a 222-0 victory in a 1916 game.

Beyond winning games, Heisman pioneered coaching techniques that became standard across college football. His innovations included the center snap, which teams everywhere eventually adopted. Heisman also campaigned for the legalization of the forward pass.

After his coaching career ended, Heisman became director of athletics at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City. The organization awarded an annual trophy to college football’s top player.

Following Heisman’s death in 1936, the trophy was renamed the Heisman Trophy in his honor.

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