Harry Leons

Harry Leons (born December 20, 1974) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Portland Forest Dragons and Los Angeles Avengers. He played college football and basketball for the Eastern Washington Eagles. He joined the Eagles football team as a walk-on sixth-string quarterback but eventually became the team's starter. Leons led the Eagles to the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal, earning Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Burger King Division I-AA first-team All-American honors. After his college career, Leons played three seasons in the AFL. Primarily a backup during his AFL career, he started one game for the Los Angeles Avengers in 2001.

Early life Harry Leons was born on December 20, 1974. He played high school football, basketball, and baseball at Olympia High School in Olympia, Washington. He started his first football game at quarterback as a sophomore. He took over as the full-time starter his junior year but suffered a season-ending knee injury after a 3–0 start. He graduated from Olympia High in 1993. At the time he joined the team, he had lost due to mononucleosis. He took a redshirt in both football and basketball for the 1993 season. Overall in 1997, he completed 159 of 257 passes (61.9%) for 2,588 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions, earning Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Burger King Division I-AA first-team All-American honors. The 1997 Eastern Washington Eagles finished the season with a 12–2 record, and lost to Youngstown State in the NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal.

Leons signed with the Portland Forest Dragons of the Arena Football League (AFL) on April 5, 1999. After starter James Guidry suffered a season-ending injury, Leons replaced new starter Tom Beck in the fourth quarter of the May 17 game against the New Jersey Gladiators. Leons completed eight of 13 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for a touchdown as Portland lost 38–24. Beck then left the team, and the Forest Dragons signed Ron Lopez. Leons served as Lopez's backup. On June 19 against the Grand Rapids Rampage, Lopez suffered a mild concussion and was benched for poor play. Leons entered the game for the last offensive series and threw a touchdown with 38 seconds left to give Portland a 46–36 lead. Leons reportedly earned $1,000 per week during his time with the Forest Dragons. He beat out Justin Vedder for the team's third-string quarterback job behind starter Scott Semptimphelter and backup Todd Marinovich. Leons did not end up appearing in any games during the 2000 AFL season. He was placed on recallable waivers on June 5 and signed to the team's practice squad on June 18. Leons started the July 13 game against the Carolina Cobras but separated his shoulder in the first quarter. He later started a small business in Chicago.