Rashaan Salaam Heisman Trophy offered at auction

SCP Auctions is offering the original Heisman Trophy presented to Rashaan Salaam in 1994 in an exclusive online auction. 

Bidding is currently open and concludes on Jan. 20. All net proceeds from the sale will be donated to CTE related medical research.

Salaam was a runaway winner in the 1994 Heisman voting after the former running back for the Colorado Buffaloes became just the fourth player in college football history at the time to surpass the 2,000-yard mark in rushing.

Salaam died last year as a result of suicide at the age of 42. In the wake of his untimely passing, Salaam was publicly remembered by those who knew him best as much for his kindness, humility and generous spirit, as for his prolific talent on the gridiron. Former CU coach Bill McCartney, who recruited Salaam out of La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego, remembered Salaam not only as a great player, but as a great teammate.

"He was very coachable," McCartney said. "He had a happy heart. I loved being around him. He didn't take himself too seriously, and he always credited those around him, especially his offensive line." 

"Rashaan will be remembered as one of the greatest football players to ever wear a Buffs uniform," CU Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano said. "His 1994 Heisman Trophy brought great prestige and honor to the university."

The trophy was sold by Salaam in 2014 and later resold to its present owner Tyler Tysdal, a Denver-based real estate and private equity investor and longtime sports collector. In memory of Salaam, Tysdal and his family intend to donate all net proceeds from the sale of the trophy to the National Institutes of Health to support research on athletes' medical conditions, which includes brain injuries and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). 

“A gifted football player won this trophy. We wanted to honor him by utilizing it to benefit other players who need help,” Tysdal said. “It’s our hope that people will be inspired to donate to CTE research so we can identify and treat those athletes already suffering from brain injuries and prevent these injuries in the future.”

For more information or to bid, visit www.scpauctions.com.