Joe Profit

Last updated

Joe Profit
Picture Headshot Dr Profit Standing Suite (2).jpg
Personal details
Born (1949-08-13) August 13, 1949 (age 74)
Lake Providence, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party Republican
Education University of Louisiana, Monroe (BA)
American football career
No. 23
Position: Running back
Personal information
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school: Richwood
(Ouachita Parish, Louisiana)
College: Northeast Louisiana
NFL draft: 1971  / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:471
Rushing touchdowns:3
Receptions:14
Receiving yards:130
Player stats at PFR

Joe Profit (born August 13, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL). He spent two seasons, plus part of a third, on the Atlanta Falcons before moving to the New Orleans Saints. He was selected in the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 1971 NFL draft. In his three seasons in the NFL, he rushed 133 times for 471 yards and three touchdowns. He spent the 1974 season with the Birmingham Americans and 1975 with the Birmingham Vulcans, both of the World Football League. He played college football at Northeast Louisiana University. Profit ran as a Republican in 2018 for Congress in Georgia's 4th congressional district, losing to incumbent Democrat Hank Johnson. [1]

Contents

Early life and college career

Joseph Profit was one of nine children born to Simon and Ethel Profit in one of the poorest areas in America, Lake Providence, Louisiana. He graduated from Richwood High School in Monroe, Louisiana, and afterwards briefly attended Alcorn State before transferring to the University of Louisiana, Monroe.

Profit “only played three (football) games as a high school senior.” [2] In those three games he managed to score seven touchdowns. With such success, he received scholarship offers from various schools, including Grambling, Southern and Alcorn. Profit chose Alcorn State. However, due to various reasons, Profit left Alcorn with his sights on the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM).

While attending ULM, Profit “became the first black athlete to play football in the Gulf States Conference” [3] (now the Sunbelt Conference). He was the Conference's all-time rushing champion with 2,818 yards, 538 carries and he set 10 school records, including most yards in a game. Unanimously, he was chosen as a member of the All–Sunbelt Conference team three years in a row. He also received first-team honors on the 1970 Little All-America college football team. [4] He was, also, named Most Outstanding Running Back in the Senior Bowl and was invited to play in the North–South Shrine Game. According to Atlanta's Journal Sports Writer, Van Scott, during Profit's collegiate career, he scored 19 rushing touchdowns and, at one time, placed 27th in the NCAA College Division rushing statistics. [5] Profit was the first athlete to have his number retired in the school's history.

Career

NFL

Profit was selected in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He was the first running back in Atlanta Falcons’ history to ever rush for 169 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns in a single game. [6] NFL Hall of Famer, Norm Van Brocklin, said “Joe was the best running back in the United States of America.” At the time, Profit was the single longest hold out in contract negotiations in Falcons history and the first running back to receive a multi-year six figure contract. After two years with the Falcons, Profit he was traded to the New Orleans Saints. In 1975, he signed with the Birmingham Americans in the World Football League (WFL), where he scored the first touchdown in the league.

Business career

As a businessman, Profit was the first African-American to purchase an International House of Pancakes (IHOP) franchise in Georgia. After selling it, he bought several Burger King Restaurants.

In addition, Profit is founder and CEO of Communications International Inc., a telecommunications company. (CII). In 1991, CII was the first minority-owned firm to secure a multimillion-dollar contract to help in the reconstruction of the war-damaged country of Kuwait. Profit serves as president and CEO of Multimedia Digital Broadcast Corporation (MDBC). Founded in 2007, MDBC is a technology and marketing company that provides entertainment and information through a digital media delivery platform. The company specializes in a Proprietary Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and broadband technologies. It, also, provides marketing, branding, advertising, strategic services and digital broadband content delivery services.

Profit is the author of “Fields of Success - Raised Expectations.” [7] It is a biography written to inspire others, especially our youths.

For the past ten years, Profit has dedicated a great deal of his time focusing on his national Youth United for Prosperity, (YUP).

Profit is the founder of Legends & Kids, a series of literacy workshops in cooperation with public and private schools systems across the nation.

Political career

Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush appointed him to various government advisory boards. [8] He was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission Small Business Advisory Committee (FCC), the International Trade Board Subcommittee for Policy, International Trade Board Subcommittee for Policy, Federal Reserve Board, the White House Small Business Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Advisory Board.

2018 congressional campaign

In 2018, Profit challenged Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson. He won the Republican primary unopposed. [9] He lost to Johnson 79%-21%. [10]

2020 congressional campaign

Profit initially decided to run for the open seat in Georgia's 7th congressional district, but on December 23, 2019 decided to switch races to challenge one-term incumbent Congresswoman Lucy McBath. He was defeated by former Republican congresswoman Karen Handel in the Republican primary election.

Personal life

Profit married his first wife, Deborah Robinson, in 1971 and had four children from that union. In 2008, he married his second wife, Wanda. Presently, Profit and his wife reside in Marietta, Georgia. Profit ran as a Republican for Georgia's 4th district.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamal Anderson</span> American football player (born 1972)

Jamal Sharif Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section 4-A All-City first-team in 1989. He went on to play college football at Moorpark College for the Moorpark College Raiders before playing for the Utah Utes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrison Hearst</span> American football player (born 1971)

Gerard Garrison Hearst is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. A first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals, he also played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos of the NFL. He ran for 1,000 yards or more in four different seasons. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Turner (American football)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Michael Turner is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northern Illinois Huskies, earning second-team All-American honors in 2003. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and also played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons. He was a two-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Atlanta Falcons season</span> NFL team season; final one with Michael Vick

The 2006 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 41st in the National Football League (NFL). The team attempted to improve on their 8–8 record in 2005.

Undra Jerome Johnson is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and the Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Snelling</span> American football player (born 1983)

Jason Michael Snelling is a former American football running back. He played his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.

The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Overcoming a disappointing 4–12 record, quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal and head coach Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation in 2007, the Falcons, who were expected to be in a rebuilding phase, completed the regular season with a surprising 11–5 record and earned the #5 seed in the NFC playoffs under first-year head coach Mike Smith; however, the team fell to the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacquizz Rodgers</span> American football player (born 1990)

Jacquizz "Quizz" Rodgers is a former American football running back. He played college football at Oregon State, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Gartrell Godfrey Johnson, III is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football for the Colorado State Rams. Johnson was also a member of the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Gurley</span> American football player (born 1994)

Todd Jerome Gurley II is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Rams with the 10th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devonta Freeman</span> American football player (born 1992)

Devonta Cornellius Freeman is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ito Smith</span> American football player (born 1995)

Romarius "Ito" Smith is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Smith was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft, and played three seasons for the Falcons in the NFL. He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feleipe Franks</span> American football player (born 1997)

Feleipe Franks is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played his first two years of college football at Florida and transferred to Arkansas for his final season. Franks joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Green (wide receiver)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1996)

Marcus Antonio Green is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Louisiana–Monroe and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

TaQuon Cartorius Marshall is an American football wide receiver for the Blues of The Spring League. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 2015 to 2018, serving as the team's starting quarterback in his last two seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bijan Robinson</span> American football player (born 2002)

Bijan Robinson is an American football running back for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas, where he won the Doak Walker Award and was a unanimous All-American in 2022 before being selected by the Falcons eighth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slade Bolden</span> American football player (born 1999)

Slade Bolden is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

The 1970 Little All-America college football team is composed of college football players from small colleges and universities who were selected by the Associated Press (AP) as the best players at each position. For 1970, the AP selected three teams, each team having separate offensive and defensive platoons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Huntley</span> American football player (born 1998)

Caleb Jarod Huntley is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Ball State and was signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Georgia Election Results: Fourth House District". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ The Shreveport Journal
  3. ↑ "A Clutch Receiver Profit Can Fly". Ron Hudspeth. The Atlanta Journal.
  4. ↑ "A.P.'s Little All-American". The Morning News. December 10, 1970. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Atlanta's Choice". Van Scott. The Atlanta Journal.
  6. ↑ . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 10, 1972.{{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ "Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame".
  8. ↑ "Lewis Assured 5th, Incumbent Johnson Vying for 7th (Term) in 4th". November 2018.
  9. ↑ "Joe Profit".
  10. ↑ The Washington Post
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.