Exclusive | 1973 Heisman Ceremony: Full John Cappelletti Acceptance Speech, Full Gerald Ford Keynote

This exclusive reel presents the full Heisman Memorial Trophy acceptance speech delivered by Penn State halfback John Cappelletti at the New York Hilton hotel in Manhattan on December 13, 1973. The emotional speech is preceded by the full keynote address by United States Vice President Gerald Ford.
Cappelletti dedicated the trophy to his younger brother Joey Capelletti, who was battling leukemia. Joey would die of leukemia at age 13 on April 8, 1976.
A recreation of the Heisman speech is featured in the 1977 made-for-television movie 'Something for Joey,' in which actor Marc Singer portrays John Cappelletti.
The Heisman is presented annually in New York to the individual voted college football's top player.
Fewer than eight months after Ford delivered his keynote speech, he became the 38th president of the United States.

[@scot60]

John Cappaletti is an example of a true athlete and someone kids could look up to. I was 12 when he made this speech and remember watching Something for Joey and crying my eyes out. Sports and athletes are so much less now than in the past. I hope that class and grace return to sports. I miss those days. RIP Joey.

[@johnschatzle8157]

If you didn't cry at this speech, then you don't have a heart. May God be with Joey now and forever in Jesus name amen❤❤❤❤

[@jeffhall4125]

I say that movie when I growing up in the 70s one of the most emotional movies I have ever scene

[@donrobinson5662]

I'm 58 years old now, a native of Georgia and in 1977 I watched Something for Joey on television as a 7th grader and that show changed my life forever. John got drafted by the Rams #11 overall in 1974 and I became a Rams fan in 1977 after watching Something for Joey. I've been a Rams fan now for 46 years, all because of John and Joey Cappelletti.

[@jacquil6718]

I am 60 years old and I still remember the movie, “Something For Joey”. To this day, every now and then, this movie creeps into my head. I believe it will be one of my last memories before God calls me home.

[@joebalusikiii5811]

56 year old here. The Cappaletti story of John, Joey and the family has never left my heart. John's acceptance speech is still gut wrenching, filled with emotion, humility, grace and thankfulness.

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

Brians song and something for joey great films and about cancers devastating effect on families

[@AndyB718]

I cried as a 10 or 11 yr old watching the movie Something for Joey. Well, I'm 56 now in 2024, and that just broke me a little bit again..🙏

[@lindacosta5688]

For a young man he showed so much class

[@ogunleyeolawale5712]

Really

[@kevinwalsh1178]

I grew up in UD. Went to the same grade and high school as John. Great speech. I will always remember Mrs. Cappaletti. Might be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She ran a little water ice stand a block from my house in the summer. I miss that.

[@scarlettohara2070]

Class, humility & undying love. He's the best!!!! Drexel Hill, Pa, Monsignor Bonner High School, & Penn State will never forget.

[@jsurgee23]

I can’t remember the last time I balled like a baby watching something on KZbin. I’ve shed tears here and there…but this broke me down completely

[@richemosser421]

I watched the TV film Something For Joey as a kid. Loved watching this speech & bawled like a baby. Thank you for posting 👍

[@edkubeck1366]

Me too...he is a great man and his brother was such an inspiration too.

[@mav51063]

Me too! It's one of those movies that makes you cry! Like Brian's song.

[@jacquil6718]

So did I. I still remember where I was when I first saw the movie Something For Joey. 😢

[@jameskipp1657]

Same here

[@JavierLaughin]

Such fond memories of John Cappelletti...a man of honor and compassion...he would dedicate his Heisman to his dying brother. How many times did he thank God for his parents, his football career. Yup, John was a rare breed of man.

[@fuddrucker74]

What a RockStar of a human being.

[@jonathanbatturs6359]

In the West Virginia game after 3 touchdowns, John was taken out of the game. At some point after that, it was relayed to Paterno that John had promised his brother Joey 4 TD's . Paterno returned John to the game and on the play that John scored the 4th TD an old Penn State fan that told me he was at that game said that Penn States Offensive Line EXPLODED off the line on that play and would have moved the Iron Curtain of the Pittsburgh Steelers on that 4th TD for Joey !

[@donaldhiley5941]

Wow ... am I the only one that cried like a baby at the end of the speech

[@wmw3629]

I’m sure all who watched it did!

[@tanyaobregon2266]

NO! I AM BAWLING AS I DID WATCHING THE MOVIE "SOMETHING FOR JOEY"!

[@joeheid2776]

Nope!

[@spg5658]

This movie and Brian's Song! 👍👍

[@josephambrose2852]

I sure did This is heartwrenching

[@robertk2007]

Amazing someone that young to express feelings like this in a public forum

[@cun009]

As an 8 year old hearing this story I became a Penn State fan to this day. I always felt his character and strength shown itself in the team, they never changed uniforms, coaches or style. And I'm not from Pennsylvania.

[@Redmenace96]

Great courage to keep talking through the first 4/5, when he knew that Joey was on his mind. Great guy. Would love to meet him.

[@jasonmadewell3917]

Even if you're not a sports fan , Somethin for Joey will bring you to 😭 tears

[@danielcorreard3746]

anyone who watches this speech and still has a dry eye doesn't have a heart cappelletti is just a real class act and a very fine human being god bless him

[@garyhagen3188]

As with most of the people here, I was introduced to the Cappelletti family through the movie Something For Joey. It was an eye opening and sad event. I purposely looked for this video because I had never seen the entire speech. Even though I know what was coming, tears filled my eyes again. John Cappelletti was a class act whose speech is the one that all others are compared.

[@spwb2k]

when i was a little yoot, something for joey and brian's song were a 1-2 punch right in the feels and the babe ruth story was the knockout.

[@yossarian6799]

Yoot? I'm 57 and this shlt still gets be bawling. "Iron Giant" also has me reaching for a hanky and the end of "Radio Flyer" just guts me to the core. I need a sedative to watch "Brian's Song."

[@georgemallory797]

I remember and adored this movie but had never seen the real speech until just now. What a class act. That was a serious tear jerker. RIP Joey Cappelletti.

[@Candy-sy6eo]

Thank you for preserving this great speech by John Cappelletti - a true hero!

[@TheEurokrafts]

This just breaks my heart. I remember the TV movie 1977. It broke my heart but was so uplifting. God Bless the Cappelletti Family.

[@user-qg7fh5om7m]

I'm 59 and the movie still chokes me up!

[@robertschmidt7879]

I remember the announcement. I remember the made for TV movie. I watched it several times with athletes of mine. And in 2024 I am still crying. That is one of the most squared away athletes I have ever known. His on field abilities earned him the trophy, his qualities as a human being earned him my deepest respect

[@pathaden]

I really appreciate this upload....Thank you deeply

[@fmcfish1]

Very emotional and touching speech. I really need to watch Something for Joey.

[@petergoodelle291]

Student, athlete, older brother.

[@lot2196]

It is great movie.

[@chrisreed8460]

Greatest football speech ever

[@redmustangredmustang]

John's brother sadly died in 1976.

[@elainecroteau2902]

I remember watching this awesome moment!! I'm still crying !!

[@JohnRex-vi5hf]

Humanity at its finest! WE ARE!

[@TonyRomearound]

Something for Joey. Well said John. Miss the water ice stand lol

[@dougmphilly]

his voice is getting weaker as he approaches the part about joey. i'm sure most thought it was just a case of nerves under the big lights. and then, you are bawling your eyes out.

[@ColetteNasielski-d8y]

R I P Joey he died of Leukemia

[@LexisScott-i7j]

❤FROM THE BOTTOM OF ME ❤THANKS EVR SO MUCH 4 SHARIN THIS W ME. REGINA ANN REALI JD❤

[@user-qg7fh5om7m]

Unforgettabal!

[@curtmartin6477]

Yes.

[@jamiekeogh5393]

🇺🇸🏈😉💪

[@mmurph2686]

Cap’s words were as elegant as Ford’s were boring.

[@ihl8608]

oh gez keep politics out of this

[@mmurph2686]

@@ihl8608 I'm not sure how a comment on someone's stage presence is considered "talking politics." Cap was inspiring and Ford was not. I'm actually thankful for Ford because his lack of personality led to the rise of Ronald Reagan. Now THAT is politics!

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

Unfortunately, joe paterno did things he shouldnt of that got him fired fromvthe penn state Nittany lions

[@johnwaffleh2p70]

Dorsetts better

[@davidmitchell6873]

Yeah, but so what?

[@steveswangler6373]

And you’re a jackass

[@jvandoren69]

Not about Dorsett

[@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879]

He needed to man up for his brother and not be a weepy mess. The kid needed his strength not his tears.

[@kayingram29]

Jerk.

[@jethro1963]

Troll or bot?

[@jethro1963]

@@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 Ok, tough guy!

[@leeyaferguson9019]

both need father

[@steveswangler6373]

You’re a jackass