A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story is a 1991 CBS made-for-TV movie that recounts the life of Ricky Bell, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back sickened with dermatomyositis, and Ryan Blankenship, a physically impaired child. The movie takes place during the 1981 Buccaneers season, including actual gameplay footage and a dramatized role played by Mario Van Peebles. Bell finds himself befriending an impaired child who inspire each other to become better in their own ways.

Cast

• Mario Van Peebles as Ricky Bell (including actual gameplay footage of the real Ricky Bell)
• Lane R. Davis as Ryan Blankenship
• Polly Holliday as Ruth Weidner
• Lynn Whitfield as Natala Bell
• Susan Ruttan as Carol Blankenship
• James Zachary as Lee Roy Selmon
• John Schumacher as Charley Hannah
• Duriel Harris as Danny Reece
• Dennis Letts as Ed Warren
• Woody Watson as Larry Blankenship
• Marcus Allen as himself
• Jay Pennison as Steve Wilson
• Doug Williams as himself (only through gameplay footage)