Leon Britton

Former American football executive, coach and player

**Leon Britton** OUS (March 9, 1920 – December 20, 2014) was an American football executive, coach, player and civil rights leader, who was the founder and owner of the Union City Red Devils of the United American Football League (UAFL) from 2000 until his death in 2014. He is considered one of the most iconic people from Union City, Maryland. He was the first African-American coach and head coach in the United States, and served as the head coach of the Rosewood State Rosas from 1966 until 1985 who desegregated in 1935 following the departure of Emmanuel McHale.

Britton played college football at Rosewood State University as a fullback. During his time at Rosewood State the Rosas won two consecutive National Championships. Following his senior season Britton decided to become a coach at Rosewood State, in part due to segregation in the National Football League at the time. He joined the Rosas coaching staff as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in 1942. He would serve multiple roles at Rosewood State between 1933 and 1961, before being elevated to the role of Assistant Head Coach in 1962. He would then be elevated to the role of Head Coach, becoming the first ever African-American head coach of a college football team. He would serve as head coach from 1969 until 1984, winning multiple National Championships, and making the Rosas a dominant force in college football. Britton then shifted to an executive career, serving as the Athletic Director at Rosewood State from 1990 until 1999. In 2000, Britton would join the newly founded United American Football League as the owner of his very own franchise which would eventually be known as the Union City Red Devils. Britton owned the team until his death in 2014. Britton stepped down from ownership from the Red Devils, transferring majority ownership to his son Leon Britton II. He led the UAFL with the highest win percentage for an owner in the league, and was the only owner of a UAFL or NFL franchise to be a former player.

Britton was inducted into the Rosewood State Rosas Hall of Fame shortly after his passing, and had his number 40 jersey officially retired from circulation. He would be named to the Union City Red Devils Hall of Fame in 2020, ad well as named to the UAFL Hall of Fame as a part of their inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2020. Britton also still hold the record for the most career carries in Rosewood State history, as well as holding the record for the most rushing touchdowns all-time and in a single season. He is widely considered the greatest collegiate fullback of all-time.

## Early Life

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
* *Note*: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
* In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

## Executive Career

Main articles: Union City Red Devils and History of the Union City Red Devils

## Personal Life

Britton married Amy Britton in 1944, the two sons Leon Britton II in 1959, Michael Britton in 1961.

## Awards and Honors

### National Awards

* Order of Honor of the United States (Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction)

### As a player

* 2x National Champion (1938, 1939)
* Freshman All-American (1938)

## Death

Leon Britton died of natural causes on December 20th, 2019 at the age of 99 at Rosewood State Medical Hospital.

## Legacy

After his passing, the school's stadium was renamed in his honor,

The Leon Britton Foundation was founded in 2018 to encourage young African-American men in professional football, including coaching and as executives. The foundation is responsible for educating about the life and legacy of Britton through the Leon Britton Museum, as well as giving right to the Leon Britton Trophy, an award given to the most outstanding player in Union City, and the Leon Britton Scholarship, given to an African-American college student.