Gary Barbaro

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

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

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Barbaro's early career arrived on a December day in 1977 against the Seattle Seahawks. Facing quarterback Jim Zorn, Barbaro read the play perfectly from deep safety position. When Zorn threw into the end zone, Barbaro stepped in front of the receiver, intercepting the pass and immediately launching a 102-yard return for a touchdown. This single play set an NFL record that stood at the time and secured his place in Chiefs history as holding the franchise's longest interception return record. His dominance continued into 1979 when he intercepted seven passes, becoming the very first recipient of the Kansas City Chiefs Most Valuable Player award. By 1980, Barbaro finished second in the league with 10 interceptions, trailing only Lester Hayes's 13. He was named to the second-team All-NFL by The Sporting News and second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press that same year. In 1981, he recorded five interceptions for 134 yards while earning first-team All-Pro honors from the Pro Football Writers Association. His consistency was remarkable; he played in every eligible game of his career, totaling 101 consecutive appearances.

Reader's Guide

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. 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. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Barbaro spent seven seasons with the Chiefs, earning Pro Bowl honors following the 1980, 1981, and 1982 seasons. 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. In 1977, he had eight interceptions and led the NFL in interception return yards with 165, 102 of which he set in a December 1977 game against the Seattle Seahawks. That day, 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. In 1979, Barbaro intercepted seven passes and was the first ever honoree of the Kansas City Chiefs Most Valuable Player award. In 1980, he finished second in the league in interceptions with 10, behind Lester Hayes's 13, and was named second-team 1980 All-NFL by The Sporting News and second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press. In 1981 Barbaro had five interceptions for 134 yards while he was named first team All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers Association. In November 1983, after sitting out the entire NFL season in a contract dispute, Barbaro signed a three-year contract with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. 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. 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. He participated in every eligible game, 101 consecutive games in total, during his career.

Did You Know?

• Barbaro played trombone in marching and jazz band during most of his high school years.
• He was the first Nicholls State player ever selected in the NFL Draft.
• His 102-yard interception return in 1977 broke an NFL record at the time and remains the Chiefs' single-game record for longest interception return.
• Barbaro was the first ever honoree of the Kansas City Chiefs Most Valuable Player award in 1979.
• He is a member of both the Nicholls State Athletic Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.