Greg Horton
Born: | Offensive lineman | March 1, 1951
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College | University of Colorado |
NFL draft | 1974 / Round: 3 / Pick: 56 |
Drafted by | Chicago Bears |
Career history | |
As player | |
1976–1978, 1980 | Los Angeles Rams |
1978–1979 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Gregory Keith Horton (January 1, 1951 – November 11, 2016) was a professional
Horton was traded to the Buccaneers 2 games into the 1978 season, where he would play both sides of the line; first the left guard, and finish the season as the right guard position. Little did he know he would take part in an amazing sports story, the "Worst to First" ride of the Bucs, from 0-26 expansion losers to 10 points away from a Super Bowl; in only 4 years.
Unlike previous years, the 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into the season with two important things; A 4th Ranked Defense in 1978, and a Quarterback named Doug Williams who was capable of throwing the ball downfield. In hindsight however, the greatest asset of the 1979 Bucs was their Offensive Line. Anchored by
Behind the Offensive Line, QB Williams was only sacked 12 times, in a 16-game season. Winning their first ever NFC Central Division Championship, The Offensive Line opened holes in the playoffs for Ricky Bell's 38 rushing attempts for 142 yards, setting an NFL playoff record for most attempts! Suddenly these young Bucs found themselves hosting an NFC Championship game. Tampa Bay ended up losing to the Los Angeles Rams, Horton's former team. The next season Tampa Bay used a draft pick to select Ray Snell out of Oklahoma as a Guard. Horton was cut during the 1980 Training Camp.
References
- ^ Greg Horton NFL & AFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com
- ^ "Former Rams and Redlands High standout Greg Horton dies". 11 November 2016.
- ^ 1979 Bucs Participation Chart - bucpower.com
- NFL.com. Archived from the originalon 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2016-11-16.