Tony Barker

Last updated
Tony Barker
No. 98
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1968-09-07) September 7, 1968 (age 55)
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school: Wichita Northwest
(Wichita, Kansas)
College: Rice
NFL draft: 1992  / Round: 10 / Pick: 280
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Anthony Ray Barker (born September 7, 1968) [1] is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Kansas before transferring to Rice University following his sophomore year. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 10th round, 280th overall selection, of the 1992 NFL Draft. He also briefly played for the Green Bay Packers.

Contents

High school career

Barker began attending Wichita Northwest High School in Wichita in 1984. While at Northwest, he participated in football, basketball, and shot put/discus in track and field. However, he gave up basketball after his junior year. As a high school football player, he played offensive tackle, defensive end and punter. In his senior year, he was a 1st Team All-City selection as an offensive tackle, defensive end, and punter, best 11 in the state from Wichita and Topeka newspapers, and honorable mention in the 1986 High School All-American football team voting.

Barker was voted to the Wichita Eagle's all-time Wichita High School Football team as a 1st team offensive tackle. Also on that team was former Detroit Lions Defensive end Lawrence Pete (who went to South), Linebackers Mark (Seattle Seahawks/Indianapolis Colts) and Mike Bell (Kansas City Chiefs) (Both went to Bishop Carroll), Pro-Football Hall of fame running back Barry Sanders (North), and Tennessee Titans Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who is (like Barker) a Northwest alumni.

College career

Barker was recruited by multiple Division I programs. Barker's final selection came down to Kansas and Oklahoma State and with encouragement from his parents, he picked Kansas. [2] He was recruited as a defensive end, but while watching film of another recruit, his coaches noticed his speed and decided to switch him to linebacker.

After the 1987 season, head coach Bob Valesente was fired and Glen Mason took over. Because of the coaching change, Barker transferred to Rice after his sophomore season. By NCAA regulations he had to be redshirted his junior year. He lettered in football in 1990 and 1991. In 1991, he collected 127 tackles, tied for the fifth highest single-season total in team history. That same year, he finished with five interceptions, eighth on the team single-season list. He made the All-Southwest Conference that year and won the Jess Neely Linebacker Award.

College statistics

YearTeamTcklsSacksIntsFFFRTD
1987 [3] Kansas1100010
1988 [3] Kansas7001000
1989RiceDNP — Red Shirted
1990 [4] Rice4410011
1991 [5] Rice12705431
Total25216451

Professional career

NFL Draft

After the NFL combine, the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders expressed interest in Barker. Ultimately, he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 10th round (280th overall pick) in the 1992 NFL draft. [6]

Washington Redskins

He signed a 1-year contract worth $110,000, the league minimum at the time, a common occurrence for late-round picks. Barker was released during the preseason, but was eventually re-signed. He also spent a portion of the 1992 season on the Redskins practice squad. [7] As a rookie, he mainly played on special teams, but had two starts at outside linebacker against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks. After the season, Barker's contract expired and Joe Gibbs retired. Following Gibbs's retirement, Richie Petitbon took over and chose not to renew Barker's contract.

Green Bay Packers

Barker was reunited with the coach that recruited him at Kansas, Bob Valesente, when the Green Bay Packers signed him before their 1994 training camp. [8] He was released two days before the first pre-season game.

Retirement

Barker decided not continue his career, despite several offers from minor league teams and the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europa (then, NFL Europe). He finished his NFL career recording no official statistics, due in part to tackles not being officially recorded until 2001, and eight games played with two starts.

Personal life

Barker resides in Texas He married his wife in March 2005. He has two children, from a previous marriage and two stepchildren from his wife's previous marriage.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eight-man football</span> Form of gridiron football

Eight-man football is a form of gridiron football, generally played by high schools with smaller enrollments. Eight-man football differs from the traditional 11-man game with the reduction of three players on each side of the ball and a field width that can be reduced to 40 yards, 13 1/3 yards narrower than the 53 1/3-yard 11-man field. Most states continue to play on a field 100 yards long, whereas a few states opt for 80-yard lengths. Reduced-player football, which consists of eight-man, six-man, and nine-man football has gained popularity across the United States. As of 2015, 1,561 schools in 30 states sponsor reduced-player football, with 1,161 of those teams participating in eight-man leagues, whereas 284 teams play six-man football and 116 teams play nine-man football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Matuszak</span> American actor and American football player (1950–1989)

John Daniel Matuszak, nicknamed "Tooz", was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) who later became an actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Brown (cornerback)</span> American football player and coach (1953–2006)

David Steven Brown was an American professional football player who was a cornerback for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1975), Seattle Seahawks (1976–1986), and Green Bay Packers (1987–1989). He was selected as a second-team All-NFL player in 1984 and a second-team All-AFC player in 1985. His 62 career interceptions ranks tied for tenth in NFL history, with only five players having more interceptions in a career since his career ended in 1989. His 50 interceptions with the Seahawks remains a club record.

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that weekend off. This marked the first time since the 1966 NFL season and the AFL seasons of 1966 and 1967 that there were byes in week 1.

The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League (NFL). To increase revenue, the league, for the first time since 1966, reinstated bye weeks, so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 10 teams to 12 teams by adding another wild card from each conference, thus adding two more contests to the postseason schedule; this format was modified with realignment in 2002 before the playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Grimm</span> American football player and coach (born 1959)

Russell Scott Grimm is an American former professional football player who was a guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He has also served as an assistant coach for the Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans. As a professional, Grimm had multiple selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Grimm played 11 seasons for the Redskins and was a first-team selection to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.

Andrew Robert Heck is an American football coach and former player. He is the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons. He was drafted in the 1989 NFL Draft with the 15th overall selection in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks He played college football at the University of Notre Dame. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Thompson</span> American football player and executive (1953–2021)

Ted Thompson was an American professional football player and executive in the National Football League (NFL). He was the general manager of the Green Bay Packers from 2005 to 2017. Thompson had a 10-year playing career in the NFL as a linebacker and special teams player with the Houston Oilers from 1975 to 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Clemons (defensive end)</span> American football player (born 1981)

Christopher Clemons is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, and signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Clemons also played in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamerion Wimbley</span> American football player (born 1983)

Kamerion Wimbley is an American former professional football player who was a outside linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft with the 13th overall pick. He also played for the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans before retiring in 2015. He played college football at Florida State University.

Steven Eric Tovar is an American former football player and coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, the San Diego Chargers and the Carolina Panthers. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Bengals in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorenzo Alexander</span> American football player (born 1983)

Lorenzo John Alexander is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the California Golden Bears, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers in 2005.

John Keith Butler is a former American football coach and linebacker. He played for the National Football League (NFL)'s Seattle Seahawks for ten years. Butler spent 23 years coaching in the NFL, predominantly with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Stanley Anthony Woods is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks from 1987 to 1992, as well as the Los Angeles Rams and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Brown (American football)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Arthur Brown Jr. is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State University, where he earned All-American honors. Brown has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Curry (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

Aaron Curry is an American college football coach and former linebacker who is the inside linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Curry was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. Curry also played for the Oakland Raiders in 2011 and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Okung</span> American football player (born 1988)

Russell Okung is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and was twice recognized as an All-American, including a unanimous selection in 2009. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, and also played for the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and Carolina Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nico Johnson</span> American football player (born 1990)

Nico Johnson is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama, where he was a member of National Championship teams in 2009, 2011, and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mychal Kendricks</span> American football player (born 1990)

Marvin Mychal-Christopher Kendricks is a former American football linebacker. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Kendricks won Super Bowl LII with the Eagles. In September 2018, he pleaded guilty to insider trading and was released by the Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutton Smith</span> American football player (born 1996)

Sutton Smith is an American football fullback who is a free agent. He played college football at Northern Illinois, mainly as a linebacker.

References

  1. ↑ "Interview with parents Max and Pat Barker, June 2006".
  2. ↑ "Barker, Hatchett chose Kansas". Lawrence Journal-World. February 9, 1987. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Kansas Football stats 1980-1989" (PDF). Kuathletics.com.
  4. ↑ "Rice 1990 stats". RiceOwls.com.
  5. ↑ "Rice football". RiceOwls.com.
  6. ↑ "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ Stellino, Vito (November 9, 1992). "Barker makes most of second opportunity Linebacker fills in for injured Collins". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  8. ↑ "TRANSACTIONS". New York Times. March 12, 1994.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.