PRIDE OF USC-Mike Garrett poses proudly with his mother, Mrs. Ella Sigur, and coach John McKay after he was informed he won the Heisman Trophy. Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds.
A two time All-American, Garrett set numerous NCAA, Pac-8 Conference and USC records in his career by amassing a then unheard of 3,221 yards and scored 30 touchdowns. Garrett also led the nation in rushing in 1965 with 267 carries for 1,440 yards. He also caught 36 passes, returned 43 punts, returned 30 kickoffs and threw 6 passes. Two of his passes went for touchdowns. Garrett was awarded the 1965 W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. He won the Heisman Trophy after the 1965 regular season.[2] In 1985, he was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Garrett was a brother of the Alpha Kappa Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity while a student at USC. He is a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.
Garrett was a two-time AFL All-Star. in 1966 and 1967. He played in the first AFL–NFL World Championship Game, now referred to as Super Bowl I, with the Chiefs after the 1966 season. He contributed 17 rushing yards, three receptions for 28 yards, and two kickoff returns for 43 yards in their loss. Garrett won a World Championship ring with the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, the last AFL–NFL World Championship Game before the AFL–NFL merger, when the AFL’s Chiefs beat the NFL’s Vikings, 23–7. Garrett was the top rusher of Super Bowl IV with 11 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, also catching two passes for 25 yards and returning a kickoff for 18 yards. In his eight professional football seasons, Garrett rushed for 5,481 yards, caught 238 passes for 2,010 yards, returned 14 kickoffs for 323 yards, and returned 39 punts for 235 yards. Overall, Garrett gained a total of 8,049 yards and scored 49 touchdowns (35 rushing, 13 receiving, 1 punt return).
In January 1993, Garrett returned to USC to become its sixth athletic director. He came under fire when he hired the heavily criticized Pete Carroll as head football coach in 2001, but was vindicated when USC returned to status as a dominant football power. In 2005, he allowed safety Darnell Bing who was at USC at the time to wear his retired number 20 for his senior season. In 2010, the USC football program was hit with severe NCAA sanctions, and USC self-imposed sanctions on its basketball program, in the wake of allegations about violations involving former USC stars Reggie Bush and O. J. Mayo. These sanctions have been criticized by some NCAA football writers,[4][5][6][7][8] including ESPN‘s Ted Miller, who wrote, “It’s become an accepted fact among informed college football observers that the NCAA sanctions against USC were a travesty of justice, and the NCAA’s refusal to revisit that travesty are a massive act of cowardice on the part of the organization.”[9] On July 20, 2010, USC’s incoming president, Max Nikias, announced major changes in the athletic department, including Garrett’s replacement (effective August 3, 2010) by businessman and former USC quarterback Pat Haden.[1][10]
In June 2013, Garrett became athletic director at the historically black college, Langston University, an NAIA school in Langston, Oklahoma. He resigned that position less than two years later.[11] He is a board member for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is named after Ronnie Lott and is awarded annually to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.[12]
The 2015 college football season has been referred to by many observers as the “Year of the Running Back”—and for good reason. Talented runners like LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, Alabama’s Derrick Henry, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and Utah’s Devontae Booker have dominated the Heisman conversation this fall. But no matter where they placed in final voting for the award, they each owe a debt to the running back who hoisted the bronze statue 50 years ago this month—USC’s Mike Garrett.
College Football: USC Mike Garrett (20) in action, rushing vs UCLA. Los Angeles, CA 11/20/1965 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X11158 )
Running back Mike Garrett of the University of Southern California addresses the Los Angeles Coliseum crowd before his final college football home game, a 56-6 win over the Wyoming Cowboys on November 27, 1965. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Football: Super Bowl I: Overall view of stadium and field before kickoff during Green Bay Packers vs Kansas City Chiefs game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles, CA 1/15/1967CREDIT: Neil Leifer (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X12152 )Super Bowl I, Jan. 15, 1967 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers in Los AngelesFootball: Super Bowl I: Kansas City Chiefs Mike Garrett (21) in action, rushing vs Green Bay Packers. Los Angeles, CA 1/15/1967 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X12151 )
Football: Super Bowl I: Kansas City Chiefs Mike Garrett (21) in action, rushing as Green Bay Packers Willie Davis (87) looks on during game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles, CA 1/15/1967 CREDIT: Neil Leifer (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Set Number: X12152 )
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1969: Running back Mike Garrett #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Ralph Baker #51 of the New York Jets during an NFL football game at Shea Stadium circa 1969 in the Queens borough of New York City. Garrett played for the Chiefs from 1966-70. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)NEW YORK – CIRCA 1969: Running back Mike Garrett #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball against the New York Jets during an NFL football game at Shea Stadium circa 1967 in the Queens borough of New York City. Garrett played for the Chiefs from 1966-70. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Garrett
Aug 1970; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Hank Stram (right) hugs Johnny Robinson (42) as Mike Garrett (21) looks on during the 1970 pre-season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers runs upfield against the Denver Broncos at San Diego Stadium on September 24, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 37-14. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers gets up off the field against the Denver Broncos at San Diego Stadium on September 24, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 37-14. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 3: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers runs upfield against the Oakland Raiders at San Diego Stadium on December 3, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 21-19. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)SAN DIEGO, CA – NOVEMBER 5: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers talks with running back Calvin Hill #35 of the Dallas Cowboys after an NFL game at San Diego Stadium on November 5, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Cowboys defeated the Chargers 34-28. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1968: Running back Mike Garrett #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball against the Boston Patriots during an NFL football game at Fenway Park circa 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts. Garrett played for the Chiefs from 1966-70. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Running back Mike Garrett of the University of Southern California addresses the Los Angeles Coliseum crowd before his final college football home game, a 56-6 win over the Wyoming Cowboys on November 27, 1965. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 11: Running back Mike Garrett #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands in the huddle with his teammates during Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl 23-7. Garrett played for the Chiefs from 1966-70. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Aug 1970; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Hank Stram (right) hugs Johnny Robinson (42) as Mike Garrett (21) looks on during the 1970 pre-season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1969: Running back Mike Garrett #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Ralph Baker #51 of the New York Jets during an NFL football game at Shea Stadium circa 1969 in the Queens borough of New York City. Garrett played for the Chiefs from 1966-70. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1969: Running back Mike Garrett #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball against the New York Jets during an NFL football game at Shea Stadium circa 1967 in the Queens borough of New York City. Garrett played for the Chiefs from 1966-70. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Garrett
College Football: USC Mike Garrett (20) in action, rushing vs UCLA. Los Angeles, CA 11/20/1965 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X11158 )
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers gets up off the field against the Denver Broncos at San Diego Stadium on September 24, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 37-14. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 3: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers runs upfield against the Oakland Raiders at San Diego Stadium on December 3, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 21-19. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers runs upfield against the Denver Broncos at San Diego Stadium on September 24, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 37-14. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – NOVEMBER 5: Running back Mike Garrett #20 of the San Diego Chargers talks with running back Calvin Hill #35 of the Dallas Cowboys after an NFL game at San Diego Stadium on November 5, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Cowboys defeated the Chargers 34-28. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 11: Mike Garrett #21 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl IV on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl 23-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Football: Super Bowl I: Kansas City Chiefs Mike Garrett (21) in action, rushing vs Green Bay Packers. Los Angeles, CA 1/15/1967 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X12151 )
Football: Super Bowl I: Kansas City Chiefs Mike Garrett (21) in action, rushing as Green Bay Packers Willie Davis (87) looks on during game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Los Angeles, CA 1/15/1967
CREDIT: Neil Leifer (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
(Set Number: X12152 )
Super Bowl I, Jan. 15, 1967
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers in Los Angeles
Football: Super Bowl I: Overall view of stadium and field before kickoff during Green Bay Packers vs Kansas City Chiefs game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles, CA 1/15/1967CREDIT: Neil Leifer (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X12152 )