Barry Minter

Barry Antoine Minter (born January 28, 1970 in Mount Pleasant, Texas) is a former National Football League linebacker for the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.

Early years

Minter attended Mount Pleasant High School. He later accepted a scholarship from the University of Tulsa, where he was a safety, before being converted to a linebacker and becoming a two-year starter. He was nicknamed "Deer" because of his acceleration and finished his college career with 267 tackles (11 for loss), 6 interceptions and 6 sacks.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. After Cowboys defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt became the head coach for the Chicago Bears, he traded for linebacker Vinson Smith, Minter and a sixth-round draft pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, in exchange for linebacker John Roper, tight end Kelly Blackwell and safety Markus Paul.

Chicago Bears

Minter was used both as an outside and middle linebacker in nickel packages until 1996, when he became a starter at middle linebacker after Bryan Cox was lost for the season with a broken thumb and finished with 106 tackles. The next year he led the team with 125 tackles and 6 sacks.