There was much more to Marion Barber than his bruising Dallas Cowboys career
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Marion Barber dead at 38
Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber found dead in his apartment by Frisco police. He was 38. Barber played seven years in the NFL, six for the Cowboys.
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Former Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber found dead in his apartment by Frisco police
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Coroner’s report on former Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber should include the word ‘football’
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Known as “the Barbarian” for his bruising running and hit-first running style, Marion Barber imposed his will as an all-purpose back and was a fan favorite for the Cowboys for six years.
On Wednesday, Barber was found unresponsive at his apartment in Frisco by police, who were called to the location to conduct a welfare check. Barber was 38.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic death of Marion Barber III,” the Dallas Cowboys said in a statement. “Marion was an old-school, hard-nosed football player who ran with the will to win every down. He had a passion for the game and love for his coaches and teammates. Our hearts go out to Marion’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
Former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett called Barber a “rare guy” in a post on Twitter.
“I am truly heartbroken to hear the incredibly sad news of Marion Barber’s passing,” Garrett said. “Marion played the game with such passion! He had a deep-down love for football and it showed in everything that he did!”
Barber was the older brother of former Houston Texans safety Dominique Barber and Minnesota Golden Gophers linebacker Thomas Barber, and the son of former New York Jets running back Marion Barber Jr. He was also a cousin of Peyton Barber.
Barber, who grew up outside of Minneapolis in Plymouth, Minnesota, was a standout in football, baseball and track at Wayzata High School and followed in his dad’s footsteps with a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota.
He ranks fourth on the school’s all-time rushing list with 3,276 yards, second with 4,495 all-purpose yards and second in rushing touchdowns with 35, one better than his father.
After a standout three-year college career, he decided forgo his senior season and enter the 2005 NFL Draft. He was selected in the fourth round (109th overall) by the Cowboys.
He was with the Cowboys from 2005-2010, spending one season with the Chicago Bears before retiring in 2012.
Barber was media shy during his NFL career and became reclusive afterward, limiting his contact with friends and even former teammates.
In 2014, Barber was detained by Mansfield police and taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Barber had been hospitalized twice for mental health evaluations since his retirement in 2012, according to a source.
Barber was arrested in 2019 on two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief over a 2018 incident where he was alleged to have damaged two cars while he was running in Frisco.
Former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said Barber was close to being a perfect player.
“He was a kid I had a high regard for. I was extremely saddened by that news,” Parcells said. “But here is what I want to tell you and I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk too much about him as a player.
“But I am going to say this: He was close to being a perfect player. He could run. He could block. He could catch. He was tough and he was always there. He never missed anything. I liked him a lot. I am very sad about it.”
Barber never topped 1,000 rushing yards in a season but his impact as a runner and receiver went well beyond statistics during his career.
Barber was a designated goal line scorer for the Cowboys but he also had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage every year from 2007-09.
His best season was 2007 when he helped the 13-3 Cowboys finish with the best record in the NFL. Barber rushed for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns on 204 carries with a 4.8 yards-per-carry rushing average, despite never starting a game and splitting carries with Julius Jones. Barber also caught 44 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns and he was named to his first and only Pro Bowl.
Barber was named the unquestioned starter in 2008, signing a seven-year deal, $45 million with the Cowboys with $16 million guaranteed.
Yet, there was already growing concern that his bruising style could limit his effectiveness and shorten his career, especially with a larger workload.
He rushed for 885 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns in 2008. But he also had seven fumbles and lost three after having just three fumbles and none lost through the first three years of his career.
His on-field physical toughness was contrasted with a more gentle side in a “Hard Knocks” episode in 2008 when the show was following Cowboys training camp. Barber was shown playing classical music on a piano. Barber had also learned to play the guitar since retiring and was training to become a boxer, according to former teammate Keith Davis.
In 2009, Barber rushed for 932 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 26 passes for 221 yards in his last semi-productive season for the Cowboys when he played in 15 games despite a torn quadriceps muscle.
The drop-off was dramatic in 2010 when Barber played in 13 games and rushed for 374 yards on 113 carries for a 3.3-yard average, the lowest of his career. His four rushing touchdowns were also the lowest.
Barber was released before the 2011 season and played one year with the Chicago Bears before retiring.
He finished his career with 4,780 rushing yards and 53 rushing touchdowns.
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 8:11 PM.
