Gary Barbaro

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Gary Barbaro
No. 26
Position:
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:East Jefferson
College:Nicholls State
NFL draft:1976 / Round: 3 / Pick: 74
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:101
Games started:101
Interceptions:39
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Gary Wayne Barbaro (born February 11, 1954) is a former

free safety who played seven seasons in the National Football League from 1976 to 1982 and one season in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1984. A third round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs from Nicholls State University, he had 39 career interceptions and was selected to participate in three Pro Bowls
.

College career

Barbaro played just one year of high school football at East Jefferson High School in

Metarie, Louisiana, instead spending most of his high school years playing trombone in the marching and jazz band.[1] In 1971, he was recruited to play college football at Nicholls State University, which had recently added football that year.[1] Originally a quarterback, Barbaro suffered from a sore arm and switched over to defensive back in his junior year.[1] He was named All-Conference in 1975, helping Nicholls State to an 8–2 record and being selected to play in the Senior Bowl.[1] He is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.[2]

Professional career

Barbaro was selected by the

1976 NFL Draft, becoming the first player in Nicholls State history ever to be selected in the NFL Draft.[1] Replacing previous starter Mike Sensibaugh, Barbaro was mentored by defensive backs coach Tom Bettis, who taught him how to become a more efficient free safety.[3]

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Barbaro spent seven seasons with the Chiefs, earning Pro Bowl honors following the 1980, 1981, and 1982 seasons.[2]

In 1976, Barbaro was named second-team All-NFL rookie team and won the Mack Lee Hill Award for best rookie in the Chiefs organization.

Pro Football Writers Association.[4]

In November 1983, after sitting out the entire NFL season in a contract dispute, Barbaro signed a three-year contract with the

USFL.[1] In his only USFL season (1984), he was named to The Sporting News USFL All-Star Team. Barbaro tore his ACL in his left knee earlier in the season and missed four games, came back to play in the Generals' July 1984 USFL playoff loss to the Philadelphia Stars where he further injured the knee, ending his career.[1]

In seven NFL seasons (1976–1982), Barbaro intercepted 39 passes, currently the fourth highest total in Chiefs history while his 771 career interception yards is second all-time, behind Hall of Famer Emmitt Thomas.[2] He participated in every eligible game, 101 consecutive games in total, during his career.[1]

Retirement and personal life

Barbaro currently resides in Metarie, Louisiana where he works in the food service industry and is a uniform inspector in every New Orleans Saints home football game.[3] On September 29, 2013, Barbaro became the 43rd member named to the Chiefs Hall of Fame by Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Nadeau, Rene (September 26, 2013). "Gary Barbaro headed 'home' to Kansas City for Chiefs honor". SportsNOLA.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Ferrin, Reid (September 28, 2013). "Gary Barbaro: "This is going to be awesome"". KCChiefs.com. NFL.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Teicher, Adam (March 2, 2013). "Safety Gary Barbaro inducted into Chiefs Hall of Fame". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d "Gary Barbaro Career Statistics". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2 December 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_Barbaro&oldid=1163495749"