Johnny Lattner: 1932-2016
Johnny Lattner played college football at the University of Notre Dame and won the 1953 Heisman Trophy. He also won the Maxwell Award in both 1952 and 1953, and played one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1954.
A College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 1979, Lattner was a dynamic, all-purpose back who was tough to defend on the ground, as a receiver, and as a returner.
His lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers was productive, as he recorded over 1,000 all-purpose yards and was named to the 1954 Pro Bowl. After the 1954 season, Lattner opted to serve in the Air Force, and playing in a football game there, he suffered a knee injury that prevented him from playing football again.
Lattner passed away in February of 2016, and is survived by many children and grandchildren. Several of his grandchildren have picked up the ‘football gene’ and played at the same high school in Chicago that Lattner had his no. 34 jersey retired at: Fenwick High School.
He will forever be remembered for his excellence on the field, but also his service and impact off of it.