Joe Horn facts for kids

Joseph "Joe" Horn (born January 16, 1972) is a former professional football player from the United States. He was a talented wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Joe Horn was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1996 NFL draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. Before joining the NFL, he played for the Memphis Mad Dogs in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also played college football for the Itawamba Indians. After his playing career, he became an assistant coach at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Early Life and High School Football

Joe Horn grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He went to Douglas Byrd High School. There, he played many positions in football. He was a quarterback, tailback, wide receiver, and punter. He was even chosen as an All-Star punter. Joe was also a great basketball player. He started every game as a point guard for his high school team. He wanted to play for big colleges like the University of South Carolina. However, his grades and test scores were not high enough for those schools.

College Football Journey

Joe Horn played college football for two years. This was from 1991 to 1992. He played at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi. As a wide receiver and punt returner, he caught 54 passes. He gained 878 yards and scored seven touchdowns. After college, he still couldn't join a top college team. So, he went back to Fayetteville. He worked at a fast food restaurant and a furniture factory.

Becoming a Pro Football Player

Joe Horn did not play football for two years after college. He was working at a restaurant. He had very little money left. He bought a workout video by famous player Jerry Rice. Joe studied all the drills and moves in the video. Then, he made his own video. It showed him working out and practicing. He sent this video to many professional teams.

Playing in Canada

Joe Horn tried out for the CFL team, the Baltimore Stallions. He was signed to their practice squad. However, he never played in a game for them. He also spent a short time with the Shreveport Pirates. On March 28, 1995, he joined the Memphis Mad Dogs. In 1995, Joe played very well for Memphis. He had 71 catches for 1,415 yards. This caught the eye of scouts from the NFL.

Time with the Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs picked Joe Horn in the 1996 NFL draft. He was the 135th player chosen overall. For his four seasons with the Chiefs, he mostly played on special teams. He was also a backup wide receiver. During this time, he caught 53 passes for 879 yards. He scored seven touchdowns and started only two games.

Starring for the New Orleans Saints

In 2000, Joe Horn signed with the New Orleans Saints. He quickly became a top NFL receiver. He was nicknamed "Hollywood" because of his unique style. That year, he was among the top ten in catches, yards, and touchdowns. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times while with the Saints. He set team records for receiving yards (1,399) and touchdowns (11). He also holds the Saints' record for most 100-yard receiving games (27). In 2004, he had his best year. His 1,399 receiving yards were the second most in the league.

After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Joe Horn showed great support. He helped the people of New Orleans and the Gulf region. He visited people who had to leave their homes. He also spoke out about the NFL's efforts to help the Saints team. Joe continues to support local charities in New Orleans.

After the 2006 season, the Saints asked Joe to take a pay cut. He was 35 years old and had some injuries. He refused and asked to be released from the team. The Saints let him go soon after. He finished his Saints career with 50 receiving touchdowns. This was a team record at the time. He also had 523 catches and 7,622 receiving yards.

Playing for the Atlanta Falcons

In March 2007, Joe Horn began talking with the Atlanta Falcons. He signed a four-year contract with them. In 2008, he asked to be traded from the team. He said he did not want to be just a "just-in-case guy." On August 19, 2008, the Falcons released him. In his only season with the Falcons, he played 12 games. He had 27 catches for 243 yards and one touchdown.

Retirement from Football

After leaving the Falcons, Joe Horn tried out for other teams. These included the Lions, Titans, and Giants. However, he did not play in the 2008 or 2009 seasons. In May 2010, he was chosen for the Saints Hall of Fame. On June 23, 2010, it was announced that he signed a contract with the Saints. Two days later, he officially retired from football as a member of the Saints. Since retiring, Joe Horn has focused on selling his own "Bayou 87" barbecue sauce.

Famous Cell Phone Celebration

Joe Horn was known for being a lively player. He became famous for a touchdown celebration in 2003. It happened during a game against the New York Giants. After scoring his second touchdown, he pulled a cell phone from under the goalpost padding. His teammate Michael Lewis helped him. Joe pretended to make a call. This celebration led to a 15-yard penalty. The NFL also fined him $30,000. He later said he didn't realize what he had done right away.

Years later, in 2018, Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas copied Horn's celebration. This happened after Thomas scored a 72-yard touchdown. Joe Horn was very touched by this. He bought Thomas's jersey and called him the best wide receiver in the NFL.

Coaching Career

Before the 2014 season, Joe Horn became a volunteer coach. He coached wide receivers for Northeast Mississippi Community College. This college is in Booneville, Mississippi.

Personal Life and Family

Joe Horn is married and has six children. His son, Joe Jr., also played wide receiver. He played for Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2014 and 2015.

Another son, Jaycee, played college football as a cornerback. He played for South Carolina. Jaycee was chosen 8th overall in the 2021 NFL draft. He was picked by the Carolina Panthers.