JOE HORN

'Joseph "Nog" Horn' (born January 16, 1972 in New Haven, Conn.) is an American football player who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. He was released by the New Orleans Saints on March 1, 2007 and signed a contract with the Falcons on March 8, 2007.
He is the last player in the NFL to have four receiving touchdowns in one game. Horn accomplished this feat on December 14, 2003 during an ESPN Sunday Night Football game when the Saints defeated the New York Giants by a score of 45-7.

Contents

High school career

College career

Canadian Football League career

National Football League career

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

Atlanta Falcons

Incidents

Supporting the community

Honors

Family

External links

High school career

He attended Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, NC, where he played for legendary coach Bob Paroli. He stood out as a quarterback, tailback,wide receiver, and punter. He was only voted to the Mid-South 4A All-Star team as a punter. Horn originally signed with the University of South Carolina, but his academic performance and SAT score prevented him from playing college football.

College career

Horn played two years of collegiate football (1991–1992) at Itawamba Junior College in Fulton, Mississippi. At Itawamba, he picked up 54 catches for 878 yards and seven touchdowns as a wide receiver and a punt returner. He returned to Fayetteville after achieving little success at Itawamba and worked at a Bojangles' restaurant with his mother.

Canadian Football League career

According to an NFL films interview, he had only six dollars, but decided to purchase a Jerry Rice workout video tape for $3.99 at a local Blockbuster. He then proceeded to work out in Fayetteville and made a highlight film with some colorful music which he sent to various teams. Memphis Mad Dogs coach Pepper Rodgers got this tape and offered Horn a contract. He was signed by the Memphis Mad Dogs of the Canadian Football League for the 1995 season, where he led his team in receptions (71) and receiving yards (1414).

National Football League career

Kansas City Chiefs

Horn was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He was mainly relegated to special teams and reserve duty at WR during his four seasons with the Chiefs. In his years there, he garnered 879 yards on 53 receptions with seven touchdowns, starting only two games. The New Orleans Saints acquired Horn as a free agent in 2000.

New Orleans Saints

Given a starting role with the Saints, "Hollywood", a nickname he picked up while with the Kansas City Chiefs for his particular style of dress and carries to this day, quickly proved himself to be a premiere NFL receiver. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four out of his six years with the Saints, and holds franchise records for receptions (94), receiving yards (1399), and receiving touchdowns (11) in a single season. Horn is also the Saints' all-time leader in 100 yard receiving games at 27. 2004 was a career year for Horn, as his 1399 receiving yards was second most in the league, only six yards behind Carolina Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad. The Saints signed Horn to a six-year contract extension in 2005. On March 1 2007, the New Orleans Saints asked the now 35-year old receiver (who had suffered a groin injury in the 2006 season and had consistent hamstring injuries in the past) for a pay cut. He refused and asked to be released. Horn's agent, Ralph Vitolo, manages an investment company in Fayetteville, N.C. In the 2007 off-season he asked for and received a release from the Saints.

Atlanta Falcons

On March 7, 2007 Joe Horn began negotiations with the Atlanta Falcons. He successfully signed a 4-year, $15 million contract, with a guaranteed loser status in the first two years.

Incidents

Always a spirited and outspoken player, Horn gained notoriety for a stunt he pulled on national television on ESPN Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants in the 2003 season. After scoring his second touchdown in a game in which he would score four, he pulled a cell phone with the help of fellow team-mate Michael Lewis out from underneath the goalpost padding and called his family to tell them he scored a touchdown. Horn's prank drew a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and a $30,000 fine by the NFL.[1]

Supporting the community

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina Horn has been very supportive of the people of New Orleans and the entire Gulf region. As the leader of the Saints he has served as the public face of the team in many community events in recent months. He frequently visited evacuees in both San Antonio and the Houston Astrodome during the aftermath of Katrina. He has criticized the NFL for not making a greater effort to care for the future of the Saints during this time of crisis.

Honors

On October 29, 2006, Horn became the New Orleans Saints' record holder for most touchdown receptions.

Family

Horn is married to Lacreshia Horn and they both have two children, a daughter, Jhia, and a son, Joseph. Horn's brother Darian works as an assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney. Darian is also a gospel recording artist with his third CD due out the beginning of 2008.

External links

★ Cell phone celebration video