Leon Bright

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1955)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox CFL player

|image=

|status=Retired

|import=yes

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1955|5|19|mf=y}}

|birth_place=Starke, Florida, U.S.

|death_date=

|Height_ft=5

|Height_in=9

|Weight_lbs=192

|high_school=Merritt Island

|College=Florida State

|position1=Running back

|number=26, 45

|playing_years1={{CFL Year|1977}}–{{CFL Year|1980}}

|playing_team1=BC Lions (CFL)

|playing_years2=1981–1983

|playing_team2=New York Giants

|playing_years3=1984–1985

|playing_team3=Tampa Bay Buccaneers

|career_highlights =

• CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award (1977)
• Jackie Parker Trophy ({{CFL Year|1977}})

|CFLAllStar={{CFL Year|1977}}

|CFLWestAllStar={{CFL Year|1977}}

|Awards=

|DatabaseFootball=BRIGHLEO01

|NFL=BRI289725

}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2007/1212.htm |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-01-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227201709/http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2007/1212.htm |archivedate=2009-12-27 }}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://seminoles.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/02offenserecords |title=Florida State University Official Athletic Site |access-date=2008-10-23 |archive-date=2009-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101111631/http://seminoles.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/02offenserecords |url-status=dead }}

From 1977-1980, Bright played running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and kickoff returner for the BC Lions."B.C. Can’t Find Bright", Leader-Post (March 18, 1981)."Move to Big Apple Pays off For Bright", Star-Phoenix (December 19, 1981).

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|date=May 2009}}