No. 26, 45 | |
Born: | Starke, Florida, U.S. | May 19, 1955
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Career information | |
Status | Retired |
CFL status | American |
Position(s) | RB |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
Weight | 192 lb (87 kg) |
College | Florida State |
High school | Merritt Island |
Career history | |
As player | |
1977–1980 | BC Lions (CFL) |
1981–1983 | New York Giants |
1984–1985 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Career highlights and awards | |
CFL All-Star | 1977 |
CFL West All-Star | 1977 |
Awards | 1977 - Most Outstanding Rookie |
Career stats | |
|
Leon "Pop" Bright, Jr. (born May 19, 1955 in Starke, Florida) is a former Gridiron football player in the Canadian Football League for four years and in the National Football League for five years.
He played Jr high school ball at Thomas Jefferson Jr High, high school football at Merritt Island High School in Merritt Island, Florida and was on the 1972 Merritt Island High, Florida Class AAAA state championship team. Bright was named to the FHSAA's All-Century Team which selected the Top 33 players in the 100-year history of high school football in the state of Florida's history. [1]
He played college football at Florida State University where he still holds the record for most yards on a kickoff return, which resulted in a touchdown. [2]
From 1977-1980, Bright played running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and kickoff returner for the BC Lions. [3] [4]
He also played for the New York Giants from 1981–1983, serving as the team's primary punt returner. He was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1984-1985.
Bright was selected to the Lions' 2004 50th Anniversary Dream Team. In 2006, he was the head coach for the Daytona Beach Thunder arena football team.
Leon also runs the Leon Bright Charitable Foundation. His foundation works with underprivileged kids and families.
He is the eldest of 10 children and also the eldest of 23 paternal grandchildren. Bright and wife, Tammy, currently reside in Volusia County, Florida. He has four children and four grandchildren.[ citation needed ]
John Capel Jr. is an American former track and field athlete who was a world champion sprinter. Capel played college football for the University of Florida, where he was also a member of the Florida Gators track and field team.
Jacob E. Scott III was an American professional football player who was a free safety and punt returner from 1970 to 1978 for the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Georgia, and was drafted in the 1970 NFL Draft in the 7th round, 159th overall pick, by the Miami Dolphins.
Pasquale "Wally" Buono is a Canadian ex-football coach currently working as the vice president of football operations, alternate governor and the former head coach of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and one of the most successful head coaches in league history. He has spent 22 years as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and the Lions, which is tied for the most seasons coached all-time. On September 19, 2009, Buono became the CFL's all-time winningest coach when his Lions beat the Toronto Argonauts 23–17, giving him 232 regular-season victories, passing Don Matthews. He retired in 2011 with a CFL record 254 regular-season wins as head coach, to focus on duties as general manager for the Lions. In 2016, Buono came out of retirement to coach the Lions again through the 2018 season. In the final home game of the 2018 season, Buono was honored with the Bob Ackles Award as he was retiring from football with the most wins as a coach.
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Leon Dewitt Washington Sr. is an American professional football coach and former player who is the assistant special teams coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played in the NFL as a running back and return specialist and made 2 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro teams during his career. Washington holds many kick return records for both the Jets and Seattle Seahawks.
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William David Quinlan was an American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and the Washington Redskins. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Quinlan played college football at Michigan State University and was drafted in the third round of the 1956 NFL Draft.
Merritt Island High School is a public high school located in Merritt Island, Florida. It was built in 1965.
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Yonus Ramon Davis is an American football running back and kick returner. A native of Oakland, California, he played college football in San Jose State University and signed as a free agent to the BC Lions in 2010. The Lions cut Davis in 2011 after Davis was arrested in California for attempting to sell ecstasy, and Davis served 13 months in U.S. federal prison from 2013 to 2014.
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