Joe Horn

Joseph Horn (born January 16, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL).

Horn played two years of college football (1991–1992) at Itawamba Community 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.

Still unable to qualify for Division I college football, he returned to Fayetteville and worked at a fast food restaurant and at a furniture factory.

Horn didn't play a down of football for two years after leaving college.

After playing two years at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi, Horn worked at a Bojangles' restaurant in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Down to his final few dollars, he bought a Jerry Rice workout video from a local Blockbuster and studied the drills and moves Rice performed in the film.

Horn then made a highlight video of himself working out and sent the tape to multiple professional teams across the United States and Canada.

Horn tried out for the CFL Baltimore Stallions and was signed to the practice squad, but never played in a game for the team.

Horn also had a minor stint with the Shreveport Pirates.

On March 28, 1995, Horn was signed by the Memphis Mad Dogs.

With Memphis, Horn played well in 1995, with 71 catches for 1,415 yards, and caught the attention of NFL scouts.

He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and also played for the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Memphis Mad Dogs of the Canadian Football League and the Iowa Central Tritons.

He played college football at Itawamba Community College.

After his playing career, he became an assistant coach at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Horn attended Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, 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 was also a standout basketball player in which he started every game for the Douglas Byrd Eagles as a point guard.

Horn nearly signed with the University of South Carolina and had offers from other Division I programs.

However, his academic performance and SAT score were insufficient for Division I schools.

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 gained 879 receiving yards on 53 receptions with seven touchdowns, starting only two games.

Horn signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2000 and ranked in the top ten in receptions (7th), yards (8th) and touchdowns (9th) that year.

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 a name which carries to this day, quickly proved himself to be a premiere NFL receiver.

Horn had a career year in 2004 with his 1,399 receiving yards being second most in the league.

His total was only six yards behind Carolina Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad.

The Saints signed Horn to a six-year contract extension in 2005.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Horn was noted for his support for the people of New Orleans and the Gulf region.

As a leader of the Saints, he served as a 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 criticized the NFL for not making a greater effort to care for the future of the Saints during this time of crisis.Beyond Katrina, to this day Joe donates time, energy and money to local charities in New Orleans and beyond.

After the 2006 season the Saints asked the then 35-year-old receiver (who had suffered a groin injury during the 2006 season and had hamstring injuries in the past) to accept a pay cut.

He refused and asked to be released.

He was cut soon after his request.

Horn set the Saints career mark in receiving touchdowns (50), making the Pro Bowl four times in five seasons, and compiled the second most receptions (523) and receiving yards (7,622) in Saints history.

In early March 2007, Horn started negotiations with the Atlanta Falcons.

He signed a 4-year, $15 million contract with Atlanta.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl four out of his seven years with the Saints, and set single season franchise records for receiving yards (1,399), and receiving touchdowns (11-shared with Marques Colston) as well as the career franchise record for receiving touchdowns (50, a record surpassed by Colston in 2012. ). Horn is also the Saints' all-time leader in 100-yard receiving games at 27.