It is called the Heisman Trophy because it was renamed in 1936 to honor John W. Heisman, a pioneering player, coach, and athletic director. The award originally had a different name.
Original name
When the award was first created in 1935 by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City, it was simply known as the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy or DAC Trophy, given to the most outstanding college football player.
Renaming for John Heisman
John W. Heisman was the first athletic director of the Downtown Athletic Club and a major innovator in early American football, serving as a successful college coach in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After Heisman died in 1936, the club renamed the award the Heisman Memorial Trophy in recognition of his influence and contributions to the sport, and that name has been used ever since.
