Gary Wayne Barbaro was born on February 11,1954 and is an American former professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons in the National Football League from 1976 to 1982 and one season in the United States Football League in 1984.
17 Facts About Gary Barbaro
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Gary Barbaro played college football for the Nicholls Colonels and was selected in the third round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Gary Barbaro had 39 career interceptions and was selected to participate in three Pro Bowls.
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Originally a quarterback, Gary Barbaro suffered from a sore arm and switched over to defensive back in his junior year.
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Gary Barbaro is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
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Gary Barbaro was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 1976 NFL draft, becoming the first player in Nicholls State history ever to be selected in the NFL Draft.
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The 6-foot-4,200-pound Gary Barbaro spent seven seasons with the Chiefs, earning Pro Bowl honors following the 1980,1981, and 1982 seasons.
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In 1976, Gary Barbaro was named second-team All-NFL rookie team and won the Mack Lee Hill Award for best rookie in the Chiefs organization.
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That day, Gary Barbaro intercepted a pass thrown by Jim Zorn in the end zone and returned it 102 yards for a touchdown, which, at the time broke an NFL record and is currently the Chiefs single-game record for longest interception return.
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In 1979, Gary Barbaro intercepted seven passes and was the first ever honoree of the Kansas City Chiefs Most Valuable Player award.
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In 1981 Gary Barbaro had five interceptions for 134 yards while he was named first team All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers Association.
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In November 1983, after sitting out the entire NFL season in a contract dispute, Gary Barbaro signed a three-year contract with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL.
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Gary 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.
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In seven NFL seasons, Gary 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.
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Gary Barbaro participated in every eligible game, 101 consecutive games in total, during his career.
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Gary 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.
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On September 29,2013, Gary Barbaro became the 43rd member named to the Chiefs Hall of Fame by Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.