26 Facts About Johnny Lattner

John Joseph Lattner was an American football halfback.

Johnny Lattner played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1953 and the Maxwell Award in both 1952 and 1953.

Johnny Lattner played professional football in the National Football League for one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1954.

Johnny Lattner starred in both football and basketball at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he graduated in 1950.

Fenwick, along with other Chicago-area Catholic schools, was a training ground for Notre Dame and Big Ten football programs, and Johnny Lattner held offers from top college football programs across the country.

Johnny Lattner initially considered the University of Michigan because head coach Bennie Oosterbaan ran the single wing offense, a scheme that fit Lattner well at Fenwick.

Johnny Lattner eventually chose Notre Dame, which offered a Catholic education and the highest level of competition.

Johnny Lattner played halfback for the University of Notre Dame under head coach Frank Leahy from 1950 to 1953.

Johnny Lattner won the Heisman Trophy in 1953, and won the Maxwell Award twice, in 1952 and 1953.

Johnny Lattner rushed for 651 yards and scored nine touchdowns, caught 14 passes for 204 yards, had four interceptions and tallied two touchdowns on only 10 kickoff returns.

Johnny Lattner appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on November 9,1953, with the caption "a bread and butter ball carrier", a phrase bestowed upon Johnny Lattner by Leahy.

In 1954, Johnny Lattner was selected in the first round of the 1954 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and played with them for one season before entering the United States Air Force for two years.

Johnny Lattner's single season in Pittsburgh was a success, as he totaled over 1,000 all purpose yards on offense and special teams.

Johnny Lattner coached for a period in the late 1950s, at St Joseph's High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin and the University of Denver.

Johnny Lattner's coaching career ended in 1961 when Denver cut its football program.

Johnny Lattner was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

An Oak Park resident for most of his life, Johnny Lattner later lived in Melrose Park, Illinois and resided in Anna Maria Island, Florida during the winter months.

Johnny Lattner served as vice president of sales at PAL Graphics Inc in Broadview, Illinois.

Johnny Lattner sent the Downtown Athletic Club a check for $300 along with newspaper coverage of the fire and received a replacement.

Johnny Lattner then operated a second restaurant at Marina City from 1968 to 1972.

Johnny Lattner called the fire department, then roused 25 residents from one of the buildings and carried a five-year-old girl to safety.

Johnny Lattner was credited with helping 40 people escape injury.

In 1986, Johnny Lattner ran in the election to be a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from suburban Cook County.

Johnny Lattner routinely rented out or loaned his Heisman Trophy to exhibitions, tailgates, and other events, often with the proceeds donated to charity.

Johnny Lattner had 25 grandchildren, several of whom have played football for Fenwick High School.

Johnny Lattner was 83 when he died from mesothelioma in his Melrose Park, Illinois home on February 12,2016.