howard albert "hopalong" cassady (march 2, 1934 – september 20, 2019) was a professional american football running back. he won the heisman trophy in 1955. he was added into the college football hall of fame in 1979. he played professionally in the national football league (nfl) for eight seasons, seven of them for the detroit lions, with whom he won the 1957 nfl championship game. he briefly played for the cleveland browns and the philadelphia eagles.