Place of birth Starke, Florida High school Merritt Island Weight 87 kg Cfl west all star 1977 College Florida State Height 1.75 m Cfl all star 1977 | CFL status International Role Football player Positions Running back Status Retired Name Leon Bright | |
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Date of birth (1955-05-19) May 19, 1955 (age 60) | ||
Education Florida State University | ||
Leon bright scs hof
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 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.
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.
From 1977-1980, Bright played running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and kickoff returner for the BC Lions. He also played for the New York Giants from 1981–1983 and 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 under privileged 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.