Ethan Horton is a former American football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He was born on January 19, 1967, in Pasadena, California, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played college football.
Horton was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft, but he did not sign with the team and instead played for the United States Football League (USFL) for one season. In 1986, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and played for them for four seasons. During his time with the Cowboys, Horton was primarily used as a backup running back and special teams player.
In 1990, Horton signed with the Washington Redskins and had his best season as a professional football player. He rushed for 610 yards and caught 33 passes for 318 yards, scoring a total of six touchdowns. He also helped the Redskins win Super Bowl XXVI, where he rushed for 43 yards and caught two passes for 20 yards in the team's victory over the Buffalo Bills.
After the 1992 season, Horton signed with the Los Angeles Raiders, where he played for two seasons. He was used primarily as a backup running back and special teams player during his time with the Raiders. In 1994, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles but was released before the start of the regular season.
Overall, Horton played in 123 NFL games, rushing for 2,660 yards and 18 touchdowns and catching 168 passes for 1,357 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned 16 kickoffs for 327 yards and 11 punts for 56 yards. He was known for his versatility as a running back and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield.
After retiring from football, Horton worked as a high school football coach in California. He also served as a color commentator for college football games on television. In 2019, he was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his football career.
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