Mission & Overview
Mission:
The mission of the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is to recognize and reward versatile, high-level performers in major college football (Football Bowl Subdivision); preserve the legacy of one of Louisville’s native sons and sports icons; and promote Louisville as a great sports town.
Overview:
The Paul Hornung Award is presented annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football. The award was established by the LSC in January 2010 with the support of Paul Hornung, a Louisville native and lifelong resident and a member of the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Hornung is considered by many to be one of the most versatile players in the history of college and professional football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Notre Dame and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft. During his college career, he played every backfield position, punted, kicked, returned kicks and played defensive back.
In the NFL, Hornung continued to demonstrate his versatility as a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an All-Pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers. Hornung led the NFL in scoring from 1959-61, set the NFL single-season scoring record with 176 points in 1960 and was named NFL MVP following the 1961 season.
In the spirit of partnership with Paul Hornung, the Louisville Sports Commission oversees and administers all aspects of the award, including its budget, selection process, marketing and public relations, banquet, trophy, sponsorships and hospitality. An advisory committee comprised of the LSC president and CEO, board leadership and local business leaders provides guidance to ensure the integrity and continued success of the award.
In 2016, the Paul Hornung Award became an associate member of the prestigious National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards. Its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935.
The Paul Hornung Award has become one of college football’s premier honors for versatility, with a distinguished list of recipients that includes some of the sport’s most accomplished players. Past winners include two-time recipient Travis Hunter, Heisman Trophy winners Christian McCaffrey and DeVonta Smith, NFL stars Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr., and inaugural recipient Owen Marecic, a 2026 Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. The award continues to recognize players whose impact extends beyond a single position or phase of the game and who embody the versatility that defined Paul Hornung’s legendary career.