Horn Leaves Arizona to Chase the Dream
Patrick Daly
Wednesday March 19, 2003
For Chris Horn, that dream has lived on -- despite being overlooked at every level of the game. After playing eight-man football in high school, Horn didn’t get offers to the big schools.
Coming out of Rocky Mountain College in 1999 as a three time All-American wide receiver and conference MVP in his senior season, professional teams, including those north of the border, thought he was too small and not the prototype receiver.
 Chris Horn in 2002 Image courtesy of Michael Wright |
If you’ve heard the story before, you can skip the next few paragraphs, but it bears retelling, especially for those that haven’t heard it yet.
While visiting Arizona for a friend’s wedding, Horn left a tape with an America West Arena security guard who promised to deliver the tape for him. Not thinking too much about it, Horn let it go at that.
Prior to the 2001 AFL season, Horn received a call to attend a tryout with the Rattlers, and like he’d done before, he let his play do the talking. On the practice field at Mesa Community College, Horn dazzled the coaching staff and other players by catching anything within his reach. In what seemed like a whirlwind few weeks of camp, Horn made the team as the backup to AFL legend Hunkie Cooper.
Now, after making the All-Rookie Team in 2001 and leading the AFL with 218 points and 36 touchdowns in 2002, Horn continues his quest to play in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I just feel like the timing is right,” said Horn. “I’m 25 years old. I’ve got to go for it.”
And go for it, he will, even though it’s tough leaving the Rattlers and the Arizona fans behind.
“It’s tough for me,” said Horn. “I love playing here. At the same time, I feel like I have to take a shot at it. It’s a bit of a bittersweet thing, especially leaving in the middle of the season.”
Before leaving, Horn played one more game on Sunday against the Colorado Crush in what could be his last game as a Rattler. Horn contributed to the win with another solid game and came through without any injuries.
“I am ecstatic,” said Rattlers head coach Danny White about Horn’s opportunity. “I was so scared that he would get hurt. I took him off the net there at the end. I wanted to just protect him. I thought about calling some play where he would make some great diving catch in the end zone and go out with a bang, but common sense finally set in and I decided to just let him get through it without an injury.”
Just as Arizona veterans like Cooper have helped Horn improve himself on the field, those same veterans, which also includes QB Sherdrick Bonner and WR Randy Gatewood, have helped prepare him for the next step.
“They’ve been so good about telling me what to expect,” said Horn. “One thing I think that I really have a nice heads up on is that I’ve been around a bunch of veterans that know how to approach and prepare for professional football. It’s completely different than coming fresh out of college where a lot of things can catch you off guard. Being around these guys the past two and half years I feel like I’ve learned how to be a professional and approach the game from that standpoint.”
Now it’s time to put that preparation to good use in Kansas City. Horn should have an opportunity to contribute, whether it is in an offense that led the NFL in points per game or on special teams, where a position player low in the depth chart can make an impact.
“It’s all going to come down to camp when I finally get the opportunity,” said Horn. “I’m not going in there to be the go-to player. I’m just going in there to fight for my life and try to make the team — fifth wide receiver -- and come in on third-and-long situations. I’ll be doing everything imaginable on special teams. I know if they’ve got something available, my hand’s going to go up to say I can do it because I know that raises your value.”
After the meteoric rise in the AFL, Chris Horn will have to start back at the bottom.
“It’s going to be different, going from [Arizona], where you’re a go-to player, back to the bottom of the totem pole,” said Horn. “But maybe this will be the last time I have to do that in my career.”
Although if it doesn’t work out, the same Rattlers organization that has supported him through the decision to leave will certainly take him back.
“That’s a really nice feeling, especially in a business like sports,” said Horn. “Let’s face it, this game is here one minute and gone the next, and they bring someone in as quick as you walk out the door, which I’m sure you guys will find out next week. Hopefully, they won’t give away number 11 that quick.”
So Chris, on behalf of everyone who counts themselves a Rattlers fan, here’s to hoping that you won’t need that number 11 jersey. Good luck.
Patrick Daly has been an Arena Football League enthusiast since he first stumbled across the late-night ESPN broadcasts and has followed the Arizona Rattlers since their inaugural season in 1992. He graduated from Arizona State University with an engineering degree and is currently a member of a web development team for Direct Alliance in Tempe. Patrick currently resides in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Arizona with his beautiful wife, son and a very large football helmet collection.
