Reggie Bush Has His Heisman Trophy Returned to Him 14 Years After Forfeiting

Reggie Bush has officially had his Heisman Trophy returned to him 14 years after forfeiting the honor, ESPN reported. The Heisman Trust announced the trophy’s formal “reinstatement” on Wednesday due to what it referred to as "enormous changes in the college football landscape."

Bush forfeited his Heisman Trophy in 2010 after the NCAA sanctioned USC, partially due to improper benefits Bush received during his tenure with the Trojans from 2003 until 2005. As part of the Heisman Trust’s reinstatement of the honor, Bush will once again be invited to sit with fellow winners at all future Heisman events.

"Personally, I'm thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I'm honored to return to the Heisman family," Bush told ESPN. "I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization."

Bush had his trophy returned to him at a Heisman Trust event held Wednesday morning near Jacksonville, FL. The 15 fellow Heisman Trophy winners in attendance “were all very excited to see” Bush, Tim Henning, the Heisman Trust’s associate director, told the outlet, which lent the event a “celebratory atmosphere.”

The Heisman Trust undertook a "deliberative process" before deciding to return Bush’s honor. The decision was made in part due "fundamental changes in college athletics" which have seen "student athlete compensation" become "an accepted practice [that] appears here to stay."

“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments," said Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Trust, in a statement. "We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back."

The decision to reinstate Bush’s trophy comes several months after Bush filed a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking to have the trophy returned to him.

Bush became one of the most storied college athletes of all time during his astounding turn at USC.

During his time there, he averaged 8.5 yards per touch from scrimmage, including rushing for 1,740 yards and 8.7 yards per carry over 200 carries in the 2005 season.