Gary Barnidge

Barnidge was born on September 22, 1985, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He attended and played high school football at Middleburg High School.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2016 |title=Middleburg welcomes back Gary Barnidge |url=http://www.claytodayonline.com/stories/middleburg-welcomes-back-gary-barnidge,2742 |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Clay Today |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023815/http://www.claytodayonline.com/stories/middleburg-welcomes-back-gary-barnidge,2742 |url-status=live }}

Barnidge played college football at Louisville from 2004 to 2007.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023829/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1.html |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} As a freshman, he had seven receptions for 85 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2004 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084158/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2004/ |url-status=live }} As a sophomore, he had 17 receptions for 240 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2005 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2005/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023847/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2005/ |url-status=live }} As a junior, he had 31 receptions for 511 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2006 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2006/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023814/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2006/ |url-status=live }} As a senior, he had 53 receptions for 655 yards and seven touchdowns. In the game against Middle Tennessee State, he had four receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a fumble recovery for a touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Middle Tennessee State at Louisville Box Score, September 6, 2007 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2007-09-06-louisville.html |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023725/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2007-09-06-louisville.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023555/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-barnidge-1/gamelog/2007/ |url-status=live }} He played in 48 games, including 29 starts and recorded 108 receptions for 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns. He majored in sports administration.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns: Gary Barnidge |url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/roster/Gary-Barnidge/888027c1-3c8e-4bc2-a336-50004354ddc5 |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Cleveland Browns |archive-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318042732/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/roster/gary-barnidge/888027c1-3c8e-4bc2-a336-50004354ddc5 |url-status=dead }}

File:Gary Barnidge Carolina Panthers 2010.JPG

Barnidge was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2008 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103014038/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |url-status=live }} The Panthers previously acquired the pick from the New York Jets in a trade that sent Kris Jenkins to the Jets.{{Cite web |last=Gilmartin |first=Matthew |date=July 9, 2008 |title=2008 NFL Draft: Carolina Panthers - Part II |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/36318-2008-nfl-draft-carolina-panthers-part-ii |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610202119/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/36318-2008-nfl-draft-carolina-panthers-part-ii |url-status=live }}

With the Panthers, Barnidge's main impact came on special-teams. In the 2008 season, he appeared in fifteen games in the regular season and the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329131402/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2008/ |url-status=live }} In the 2009 season, he had 12 receptions for 242 yards.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2009 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329131404/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2009/ |url-status=live }} In 2010, he appeared in all 16 games.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328201224/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2010/ |url-status=live }}

He missed the whole 2011 NFL season with a broken ankle suffered in a preseason practice.{{Cite web |last=Withers |first=Tom |date=December 10, 2015 |agency=Associated Press |title=Big catch: Browns sign tight end Gary Barnidge to extension |url=https://www.ksl.com/?sid=37710912 |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=KSL.com |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327024025/https://www.ksl.com/?sid=37710912 |url-status=live }}

On November 26, 2012, Barnidge recorded his first professional touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles on a 24-yard pass from Cam Newton.{{Cite web |title=Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles - November 26th, 2012 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201211260phi.htm |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=May 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529221007/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201211260phi.htm |url-status=live }} Overall, he finished the 2012 season with six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328201215/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2012/ |url-status=live }}

On March 14, 2013, Barnidge was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent.{{Cite web |last=Pokorny |first=Chris |date=March 13, 2013 |title=Browns Agree to Terms With TE Gary Barnidge |url=https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2013/3/13/4098766/cleveland-browns-expected-to-sign-te-gary-barnidge |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Dawgs By Nature |language=en |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610203332/https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2013/3/13/4098766/cleveland-browns-expected-to-sign-te-gary-barnidge |url-status=live }} In the 2013 season, he had 13 receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328201212/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2013/ |url-status=live }} In the 2014 season, he had 13 receptions for 156 yards.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328201210/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2014/ |url-status=live }} During the 2015 season, Barnidge had a breakout year and finished with 79 receptions for 1,043 receiving yards and nine touchdowns (he had 44 receptions, 603 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in his previous seven seasons combined).{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328201218/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2015/ |url-status=live }} His nine touchdowns tied Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome's franchise record set in 1979 and ranked No. 4 among all NFL tight ends in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge Advanced Stats and Metrics Profile: Touchdowns |url=http://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/gary-barnidge |website=PlayerProfiler.com |access-date=May 12, 2017 |archive-date=August 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826022301/http://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/gary-barnidge/ |url-status=live }}

He was voted the best player on the Browns.{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2015 |title=Browns TE Gary Barnidge has some of the best hands in the NFL |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-te-gary-barnidge-has-some-of-the-best-hands-in-the-nfl-15389658 |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com |language=en-US |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611054209/https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-te-gary-barnidge-has-some-of-the-best-hands-in-the-nfl-15389658 |url-status=live }} On December 10, 2015, Barnidge was signed to a 3-year extension worth around $12 million.{{Cite web |last=Cabot |first=Mary Kay |date=December 11, 2015 |title=Gary Barnidge's meeting with Jimmy Haslam led to deal |url=https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2015/12/tight_end_gary_barnidge_let_br.html |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=cleveland.com |language=en |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611054159/https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2015/12/tight_end_gary_barnidge_let_br.html |url-status=live }}

After the 2015 season, Barnidge made his first Pro Bowl, being voted as an alternate.{{Cite web |title=2015 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2015/probowl.htm |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308103829/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2015/probowl.htm |url-status=live }} He was ranked 94th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.{{Cite web |title=2016 NFL Top 100 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/2016-nfl-top-100.htm |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108032657/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/2016-nfl-top-100.htm |url-status=live }}

On June 2, 2016, Barnidge underwent a sports hernia surgery.{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Conor |date=June 2, 2016 |title=Browns TE Gary Barnidge has sports hernia surgery |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/browns-te-gary-barnidge-has-sports-hernia-surgery-0ap3000000666425 |access-date=June 2, 2016 |website=NFL.com |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602203329/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000666425/article/browns-te-gary-barnidge-has-sports-hernia-surgery |url-status=live }} He started all 16 games in 2016, catching 55 passes for 612 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Gary Barnidge 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328201220/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnGa01/gamelog/2016/ |url-status=live }}

On April 28, 2017, Barnidge was released by the Browns.{{Cite web |last=Gribble |first=Andrew |date=April 28, 2017 |title=Browns release TE Gary Barnidge |url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-release-TE-Gary-Barnidge/1d256b6a-29b9-4427-b6fc-ec6ccce87a9e |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601203409/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Browns-release-TE-Gary-Barnidge/1d256b6a-29b9-4427-b6fc-ec6ccce87a9e |archive-date=June 1, 2017 |access-date=April 29, 2017 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com}}

In 2011, Barnidge, along with friend and Louisville Cardinal teammate Breno Giacomini, then of the Seattle Seahawks, started a not-for-profit organization called American Football without Barriers. The organization hosted its first camp in China in March 2013.{{Cite web |title=AFWB Foundation Inc. |url=http://www.afwbcamp.com/ |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=American Football Without Barriers |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402054443/http://afwbcamp.com/ |url-status=live }}

Barnidge has appeared on two episodes of Total Divas, an E! reality television show about female WWE wrestlers showcasing their personal and professional lives, while in and out of the ring. During season 3 of Total Divas, he went on dates with former WWE superstars Rosa Mendes and Summer Rae.{{cite web |last=Traina |first=Jimmy |date=October 13, 2014 |title=Browns TE Gary Barnidge dates two WWE divas on reality show |work=FOX Sports @TheBuzzer |publisher=Fox Sports Interactive Media |url=http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/summer-rae-rosa-mendes-gary-barnidge-total-divas-101314 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121175645/http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/summer-rae-rosa-mendes-gary-barnidge-total-divas-101314 |url-status=live }} He also appeared on an episode of Impact Wrestling in 2017, assisting fellow NFL player DeAngelo Williams.{{Cite web |last=Fiorvanti |first=Tom |date=June 10, 2017 |title=DeAngelo Williams set to make pro wrestling debut |url=https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/19598514/nfl-deangelo-williams-make-professional-wrestling-debut-impact-wrestling-pay-per-view |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610201709/https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/19598514/nfl-deangelo-williams-make-professional-wrestling-debut-impact-wrestling-pay-per-view |url-status=live }} Barnidge also competed with Williams on The Amazing Race 32 and finished in fourth place.{{cite web |last=Bloom |first=Mike |date=September 22, 2020 |title=The Amazing Race Season 32: Everything We Know So Far (Including the Full Cast of Racers) |work=Parade |url=https://parade.com/932146/mikebloom/amazing-race-season-32/ |access-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-date=September 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915200700/https://parade.com/932146/mikebloom/amazing-race-season-32/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Iyer |first=Vinnie |date=December 10, 2020 |title=DeAngelo Williams' reaction to 'The Amazing Race' elimination wasn't so amazing |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/news/deangelo-williams-the-amazing-race-elimination/17b4qzh03bb041ulq3t92qu42x |access-date=December 11, 2020 |website=Sporting News |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120104611/https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/news/deangelo-williams-the-amazing-race-elimination/17b4qzh03bb041ulq3t92qu42x |url-status=live }}

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Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football tight ends

Category:Carolina Panthers players

Category:Cleveland Browns players

Category:Louisville Cardinals football players

Category:Unconferenced Pro Bowl players

Category:Sportspeople from Clay County, Florida

Category:Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida

Category:Sportspeople from Bowling Green, Kentucky

Category:Participants in American reality television series