Leonard Pope
Leonard Pope (born September 10, 1983) is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.
 Pope with the Chiefs in 2010. | |||||||||
| No. 82, 45 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 10, 1983 Americus, Georgia | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 264 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Americus (GA) | ||||||||
| College: | Georgia | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 3 / Pick: 72 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Pope has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Chicago Bears.
Professional career
Arizona Cardinals
After emerging as a redzone target in 2007 with five touchdown catches, in 2008 Pope had nine catches total (none for a touchdown).
The Cardinals waived Pope on September 4, 2009.[1]
Kansas City Chiefs
Pope signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on September 29, 2009. Pope scored four touchdowns during his three seasons with the Chiefs. In 2011, he started ten games, setting career highs in receptions and yards, and tying his career high in average yards per catch. One of his notable plays was during the 2011 Chiefs/Packers game where the Chiefs upset the previously undefeated Packers 19-14. Pope attempted to catch the ball, was tackled and possibly fumbled the ball before he had gone out of bounds. The play was reviewed, and the referees said it was a catch.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pope signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on April 10, 2012, reuniting him with his former Cardinals and Chiefs coach Todd Haley, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator.[2]
Chicago Bears
On August 3, 2013, Pope was signed by the Chicago Bears.[3] He was released on August 25.[4]
Personal life
Pope has four brothers, four sisters, two daughters (Cheryan and Laila Pope), and one son (Leonard Pope IV) . He attended Americus High School in Americus, Georgia.
Pope saved 6-year-old Bryson Moore from drowning in June 2011.[5]
Pope's nickname is "Champ", and he has a charity foundation also called CHAMP (Creating Hope And Making Progress) to help under-privileged children.
References
- "Cards TE Pope among 21 released as club reaches 53-man roster". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. September 4, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
- Steelers sign tight end Leonard Pope to one-year deal
- Associated Press (August 3, 2013). "Bears sign TE Leonard Pope, waive Brody Eldridge". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- Mayer, Larry (August 25, 2013). "Bears waive 14 players; roster now stands at 76". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- Leonard Pope to the rescue