Browns history: TE Gary Barnidge shares what he's been up to since retirement
Gary Barnidge's career with the Browns is chronicled as a progression from blocking contributor to receiving option. He stood 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed about 250 pounds, playing eight NFL seasons, four with Cleveland. Born in Middleburg, Florida, he attended Middleburg High School and played college football at Louisville before being selected by Carolina in 2008.
An ankle injury in the 2011 preseason caused him to miss an entire season, and he returned in 2012 to play all 16 games with five starts. In 2015 with Cleveland, he finally emerged as a receiving threat, posting 125 targets, 79 receptions for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns. That year earned him a Pro Bowl alternate and tied the Browns' franchise record for receiving TDs by a tight end.
His college résumé includes 108 receptions for Louisville, 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns. After joining the Browns in 2013, Barnidge's pass-catching role expanded as his hands proved reliable. Overall, the piece presents a late-blooming tight end whose production and durability elevated him within the league, extending his impact beyond his best years.


