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| John Cappelletti | |
|---|---|
| Name | John Cappelletti |
| Birth date | 9 November 1952 |
| Birth place | Jeannette, Pennsylvania |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 205 lb |
| College | Penn State |
| Position | Running back |
| Draftyear | 1974 |
| Draftpick | 11 |
| Pastteams | San Diego Chargers (1974–1978), Los Angeles Rams (1979) |
John Cappelletti (born November 9, 1952) is a retired American football running back notable for his collegiate career at Penn State University and professional tenure in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. He won the 1973 Heisman Trophy and received national attention for a widely publicized emotional moment during the award ceremony that connected his athletic achievements with his family's personal challenges. Cappelletti's achievements influenced discussions involving college football awards, NCAA recognition, and philanthropic engagement with families affected by leukemia.
Cappelletti was born in Jeannette, Pennsylvania and raised in a family with Italian-American heritage that included siblings active in high school football and local community institutions. He attended Jeannette High School where he played for regional rivals and drew recruiting interest from programs such as Penn State, Notre Dame, Ohio State University, University of Southern California, and University of Michigan. His high school performance earned recognition from statewide athletics organizations and coverage in outlets like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and regional scouting services affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Cappelletti matriculated at Penn State University under head coach Joe Paterno, enrolling in the College of Education and engaging with campus organizations tied to student-athlete welfare and alumni networks such as the Penn State Alumni Association.
At Penn State, Cappelletti played under coach Joe Paterno as a feature running back in offenses that faced opponents including Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. His senior season in 1973 produced standout performances against teams like Wake Forest, West Virginia, Pitt Panthers, and the Oklahoma Sooners, culminating in leading the country in scoring and rushing contributions that drew national Media coverage from publications such as Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, and wire services including the Associated Press and United Press International. Cappelletti received the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award while the team earned bowl invitations including the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl in adjacent seasons. His on-field partnership with teammates who later entered the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame contributed to Penn State's recruitment pipeline and the program's rankings in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll.
Selected in the first round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Cappelletti joined a professional roster that included coaches and personnel linked to the National Football League Players Association and front offices comparable to those of the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. During his tenure with the Chargers, he played in systems opposing franchises such as the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Miami Dolphins. After multiple seasons in San Diego, he finished his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1979, sharing backfield duties and contributing on special teams in contests against the Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers. Cappelletti's professional statistics were chronicled by record-keeping organizations including the Pro Football Hall of Fame archives and the NFL Record and Fact Book; his career intersected with contemporaries who later achieved Pro Bowl and All-Pro distinctions and participated in postseason play such as the NFL Playoffs.
Cappelletti's family includes his brother who also played collegiate and professional football, linking the family to communities in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and organizations such as the Jeannette Public Library and local civic groups. His younger brother's battle with leukemia and Cappelletti's public remarks during the Heisman Trophy presentation spotlighted connections with healthcare institutions such as Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and advocacy organizations involved in leukemia research like the American Cancer Society and medical research centers affiliated with Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Cappelletti engaged with charitable initiatives, alumni events hosted by the Penn State Alumni Association, and community fundraising efforts in collaboration with foundations often connected to collegiate athletic departments and local hospitals.
Cappelletti's legacy includes induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and recognition by regional halls such as the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. His Heisman-winning season remains part of retrospectives by broadcasters like ESPN, ABC Sports, CBS Sports, and writers at outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. Annual discussions around the Heisman Trophy and ceremonies at venues including the Times Union Center and institutions like Canton, Ohio for the Pro Football Hall of Fame reference his story alongside other award winners such as Herschel Walker, Barry Sanders, Tim Tebow, Archie Griffin, and Tony Dorsett. Cappelletti's philanthropic profile influenced subsequent athlete-driven campaigns for medical research and inspired scholarship programs administered through university foundations and municipal charitable trusts.
Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players Category:San Diego Chargers players Category:Los Angeles Rams players Category:Heisman Trophy winners