Chicago Tribune Silver Football

Lore & Background

The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient. In 2022, the Chicago Tribune announced a new partnership with the Union League Club of Chicago, where it is currently housed.

In Their Own Story

The press box at Soldier Field hummed with anticipation as the game clock ticked down to zero. Inside the dimly lit locker room hours later, the air was thick with sweat and celebratory chatter, but one corner remained quiet. The Chicago Tribune editors approached a player whose jersey was stained with grass and mud, holding a small, gleaming object wrapped in velvet. As the lid was lifted, the Silver Football caught the fluorescent light, its polished surface reflecting the exhaustion and triumph of the season's best Bear. It was not just an award; it was a handshake from the city itself, acknowledging that amidst the chaos of the gridiron, one player had risen above all others.

Reader's Guide

A vote of Big Ten head football coaches determines the winner of the Silver Football. Each coach submits a two-player ballot with a first and second choice, and coaches cannot vote for players on their own team. The first-place vote receives two points and the second-place vote receives one point.

Did You Know?

• The first recipient was Red Grange of Illinois.
• Coaches cannot vote for players on their own team.
• The award has been presented annually since 1924.