Connor Barwin

Connor Alfred Barwin^[1] (born October 15, 1986) is an American football defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Cincinnati, and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Early years

Barwin is the youngest of four sons of Thomas Barwin and Margaret Bailey. He was born deaf, which was not confirmed until he was two years old. He endured numerous surgeries to remove a benign tumor until about age 12, which gave him complete hearing in his right ear and limited hearing in his left ear.^[2] His favorite team as a child was the Detroit Lions and his favorite player was Barry Sanders.^[3]

Barwin attended the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. As a senior he was an All-state selection and earned All-League, All-Catholic, and All-District honors. He was also an All-League selection in basketball as a junior and All-Catholic as a senior.^[4]

College career

Barwin played college football at the University of Cincinnati, where he was a history major. As a freshman in 2005, Barwin played in all 11 games as a backup tight end, finishing with eight receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown. The starting tight end during Barwin's freshman and sophomore seasons was Brent Celek.^[5]

In early January, after injuries had decimated the Cincinnati basketball team, he joined the team, playing in 18 games as a backup forward and averaging 9.9 minutes per game. That season, he tallied highs of nine rebounds vs. South Carolina and six points vs. Pittsburgh.^[6]

As a sophomore in 2006, Barwin played in all 13 Bearcats football games as a regular on special teams and as a backup tight end. He totaled 13 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He also played in 22 games for the basketball team, with highs of five rebounds vs. DePaul and four points each against Providence and Villanova.^[7] As a junior in 2007, Barwin played special teams, as well as a backup tight end, playing in 12 games. He caught 31 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2008 Barwin was moved to defensive end after head coach, Brian Kelly, felt he had more potential at that position in the NFL. He finished the season with 53 tackles, and a Big East and team-leading 12 sacks. He also had 20 quarterback pressures, eight pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, and three blocked kicks. His play helped him earn First-team All-Big East honors and honorable mention All-America, as well as the Claude Rost Award, given to the team’s Most Valuable Player.

Barwin finished his college career with 16 starts in 51 games (14 at defensive end, one at tight end, one at H-Back) recording 66 tackles, 12 sacks, three fumble recoveries, eight deflected passes, five blocked kicks, and 53 receptions for 692 yards and six touchdowns.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Barwin ran a 4.47-second 40-time at his Pro Day, according to the University of Cincinnati's timer.^{[8][9][10][11]}

2009

Barwin was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.^[12] On October 18, 2009 Barwin recorded his first NFL sack against Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. For the season, he played in all 16 Texans games and totaled 16 tackles, 4.5 sacks and four passes defensed.^[13]

2010

Barwin's 2010 season was cut extremely short when he left the Texans' 2010 opener against the Indianapolis Colts with an ankle injury and was announced out for the season the next day.^[14]

2011

Barwin returned from injury and moved from defensive end to outside linebacker, starting all 16 of the Texans' games as the Texans advanced to the second round of the AFC Playoffs. On November 27, 2011 Barwin established a career-best 10 tackles and a new franchise record for sacks in a game with four in the Texans' 20–13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field; Mario Williams had previously held the Texans' single-game sack mark with 3.5.^[15] He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November.^[16]

Barwin finished the regular season with 49 tackles, 11.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, and a forced fumble.^[17]

2012

Barwin played in all 16 games for the Texans, starting in 15, as the Texans again advanced to the second round of the AFC Playoffs. For the regular season, he totaled 45 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five passes defensed, and one safety, the first of his career on October 21 when he tackled Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in the end zone.^[18][19]

2013

Connor Barwin gesturing to the crowd during a Philadelphia Eagles game.

On March 14, 2013, Barwin signed a six-year, $36 million contract with $8 million guaranteed with the Philadelphia Eagles.^[20]

Barwin became the fourth Cincinnati Bearcat on the Eagles' roster, joining former roommate Jason Kelce and former teammate Brent Celek as well as Trent Cole. Barwin started all 16 games for the NFC East champion Eagles. On November 3, he intercepted his first NFL pass against the Oakland Raiders' Terrelle Pryor. On November 17, he totaled a career single-game high of 12 tackles against the Washington Redskins.^[21]

His season totals included career highs of 82 tackles, 12 passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble. He also tallied five sacks.^[22] He had five tackles in the Eagles' playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints.^[23]

2014

A March 31, 2014 column on NJ.com previewing the NFL draft called Barwin the Eagles' "MVP of the defense, and a leader in the locker room."^[24] Barwin started off the season strong, registering six sacks by week 6, with three sacks and one forced fumble in the October 12 shutout of the New York Giants (27-0).^[25] In a week 9 Monday Night Football matchup with the Carolina Panthers, Barwin sacked quarterback Cam Newton 3.5 times, totaling 10.5 on the season.^[26]

Barwin was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November. Barwin recorded 6.5 sacks, 24 tackles, two batted passes, and a forced fumble during the month. At the time of the award, Barwin had a season high total of 12.5 sacks.^[27] After only 2 sacks in December, Barwin still led the NFC in sacks with 14.5, but he had dropped to 4th overall in the NFL.

Barwin earned Associated Press second-team All-Pro honors and was named to his first Pro Bowl.^[28]

Career stats

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Connor Barwin.

• Cincinnati Bearcats football bio
• Cincinnati Bearcats basketball bio
• Houston Texans bio
• Philadelphia Eagles bio