From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joe Horn
Date of birth	January 16, 1972 (age 35)
Place of birth	New Haven, Connecticut
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	213 lb (97 kg)
Position(s)	WR
College	Itawamba CC
NFL Draft	1996 / Round 5 / Pick 135
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference NFL.com DatabaseFootball ESPN
Team(s)
1995 1996-1999 2000-2006 2007-present	Memphis Mad Dogs (CFL) Kansas City Chiefs New Orleans Saints Atlanta Falcons

Joseph Horn (born January 16, 1972 in New Haven, Conn.) is an American football player who plays for the Atlanta Falcons. He was released by the Saints on March 1, 2007 and signed a contract with the Falcons on March 8, 2007. Horn rose from obscurity to a place among the elite receivers in today's NFL.

Contents 1 High school career 2 College career 3 Canadian Football League career 4 National Football League career 4.1 Kansas City Chiefs 4.2 New Orleans Saints 4.3 Atlanta Falcons 5 Incidents 6 Supporting the community 7 Honors 8 Family 9 External links

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.

Horn played two years of collegiate football (1991–1992) at Itawamba Junior College in Fulton, Mississippi. He returned to Fayetteville after achieving little success at Itawamba and worked at a Bojangles' restaurant with his mother.

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).

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. The New Orleans Saints acquired Horn as a free agent in 2000.

Given a starting role with the Saints, Horn 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. 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) 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.

On March 7, 2007 Joe Horn began negotiations with the Atlanta Falcons. He successfully signed a 4-year, $15 million contract, with a guaranteed $6 million in the first two years.

Always a spirited and outspoken player, Horn earned notoriety for a stunt he pulled in a nationally televised game against the New York Giants in the 2003 season. After scoring a touchdown, he pulled a cell phone 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]

Allegations surfaced in 2001 that Saints receiver Joe Horn had slept with Roaf's wife and perhaps fathered an illegitimate child.

His worse of all was going to Atlanta

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 has criticized the NFL for not making a greater effort to care for the future of the Saints during this time of crisis.

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

Horn's brother Darian works as an assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney.

• Cell phone celebration video