John Cappelletti John Cappelletti ( born August 9 , 1952 ) is a former professional American football running back for the NFL ' s Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers . Prior to his professional career , he attended the Pennsylvania State University , where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1973 . He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 . Penn State football coach , Joe Paterno , said that Cappelletti was " the best football player I ever coached " . Career . Cappelletti attended Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill , Pennsylvania . As a senior tailback at Penn State , he gained 1 , 522 yards on 286 carries scoring 17 touchdown s as the Nittany Lions rolled to an undefeated season . He was awarded the 1973 Heisman Trophy , Maxwell Award , the UPI College Football Player of the Year , the Walter Camp Award , the Chic Harley Award , as well as receiving All - America honors . In his two - year running - back career , he gained over 100 yards in thirteen games and had a career total of 2 , 639 yards and twenty - nine touchdown s for an average of 120 yards per game and 5 . 1 yards per carry . Cappelletti ' s Heisman acceptance speech , where he dedicated his award to his dying brother , Joey , is one of the most memorable in the history of college sports . The relationship between Cappelletti and his younger brother , Joey , who died of childhood leukemia on April 8 , 1976 , was made into a television movie in 1977 called " Something for Joey " ; Cappelletti was played by Marc Singer . The movie was based on the book of the same name written by Richard E . Peck and chronicled the bond between the two brothers as Cappelletti supported his young brother through his battle against cancer . During Cappelletti ' s senior season , Penn State was scheduled to play the West Virginia Mountaineers in a late October afternoon match . The morning of the game , Cappelletti asked Joey what he wanted for his upcoming 11th birthday . Joey replied " I want you to score three touchdowns for me . No , four . " In " Something for Joey " a shocked Cappelletti is seen confiding to a teammate : " How am I going to score four touchdowns ? " At the end of the 1st half , Cappelletti had scored 3 touchdowns , well on his way to four . But head coach Joe Paterno did not like to run up the score against opponents , so when the game resumed after halftime , Paterno told Cappelletti he would be on the bench . Cappelletti quietly took his seat on the bench , without telling Paterno of Joey ' s wish . Late in the 3rd quarter , one of Cappelletti ' s teammates told Paterno of Joey ' s wish . On Penn State ' s next possession , Paterno shouted " 22 " , and Cappelletti took the field . Cappelletti scored his 4th touchdown on the same possession , and pointed to Joey as he ran off the field . Cappelletti went on to play professional football from 1974 through 1983 for the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers . He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 . He also was a member of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame . As the undefeated 1973 team was honored at halftime in the 2013 - 2014 Penn State football season home opener against Eastern Michigan University on September 7th , 2013 , Heisman Trophy - winning running back John Cappelletti received special recognition - - his No . 22 jersey will be retired by Penn State Football . It ' s the first number to be retired by any Penn State sport . Personal . Cappelletti is married with four sons and now resides in Laguna Niguel , California , with wife , Betty ( née Berry ) . His sister - in - law is the daughter of Heisman Trophy winner , Alan Ameche . Cappelletti also is a classic car enthusiast .