He won the Heisman Trophy and was selected as the UPI College Football Player of the Year in 1950 while playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The stretch of Seventh Street which runs along the south side of Elyria High is named Vic Janowicz Drive in his honor.

Additionally, the Little League Baseball field located on Wittenburg Ave in Elyria is named Vic Janowicz Park.

Woody Hayes, who coached Janowicz's senior year, said of him, "He was not only a great runner, but also passed, was a placekicker and punter, played safety on defense and was an outstanding blocker.

During training camp in 1956, he suffered a serious brain injury in an automobile accident that left him partially paralyzed and ended his athletic career.