Benny Barnes
Safety | |||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
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| Born: | March 3, 1951 Lufkin, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | John F. Kennedy (Richmond, California) | ||||||||
| College: | Stanford, Contra Costa (JC) | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1972 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||
Benny Jewell Barnes (born March 3, 1951) is an American former professional
Early years
After attending John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond, California, he moved on to Contra Costa College in nearby San Pablo, where he was an all-conference linebacker for the football team and also an all-conference track and field athlete.
In
In 1971, Barnes posted seven interceptions (three against Sonny Sixkiller at the University of Washington)[1][2] and was an honorable-mention (second-team) All-Pac-8 selection as a senior.[3][4]
He contributed to teams led by quarterbacks Jim Plunkett and Don Bunce in two of the biggest upset victories ever in the Rose Bowl, in January 1971 and 1972, respectively.
Although he played just two years, Barnes was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame and selected to the Stanford's All-Century Team. In 2011, he was inducted into the California Community College Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
In
In
In 1976, he regained the starter position at left cornerback in the fifth game after Mark Washington suffered 2 concussions at the beginning of the season.
Although he didn't have great athletic ability, he compensated with technique, instincts and effort, which made him and underrated part of the team. In 1977, he was the starter for the Super Bowl XII winning team.
His best season came in
In 1979, despite a sore right foot that affected him since 1975, he tied for the team lead in interceptions and fumble recoveries (including one returned for a 33-yard touchdown). In the offseason he underwent a joint fusion surgery on his chronically sore right foot.
In 1980, he missed the first five games after having an appendectomy in the morning of the season opener. The Cowboys went 12–4 in the regular season with Barnes (6 games) and Steve Wilson (10 games) sharing the left cornerback position.
The
Barnes was waived in August
Oakland Invaders (USFL)
On January 14,
Barnes retired after an 11-year NFL career, where he was part of eight
Personal life
Barnes spent some time investing in restaurants and worked at Contra Costa College as equipment manager.[10] He is currently married, with three sons and one daughter.
References
- ^ "Stanford beats UW by 17–6". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 10, 1971. p. 1,sports.
- ^ "Stanford knocks off Huskies". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. October 10, 1971. p. 4B.
- ^ "Four Ducks on Pac-8 squad". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). November 28, 1971. p. 1B.
- ^ "Bobby Moore again named To All-Pac-8". Santa Cruz Sentinel. November 28, 1971. p. 18.
- ^ "Super Bowl Call on Barnes was Wrong, Rozelle Says". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Cowboys fogged in in San Francisco". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. October 12, 1981. p. 3B.
- ^ "Barnes cut by Cowboys". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. August 28, 1983. p. 1B.
- ^ "Benny Barnes signs with Oakland Invaders". Times-Daily. (Florence, Alabama). January 15, 1984. p. 2C.
- ^ "USFL teams trim rosters; Wranglers sign No.1 choice". Times-News. (Hendersonville, North Carolina). Associated Press. February 21, 1984. p. 13.
- ^ "For former football pro, it's all about the students". Retrieved February 19, 2023.
External links
- Giving back is an easy call for Barnes
- CCCAA Hall of Fame bio
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference