June 16, 2015

Highlighted Year: Terry Barr, 1963

Flanker, Detroit Lions


Age: 28
7th season in pro football & with Lions
College: Michigan
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:
Following a successful college career, Barr was chosen by the Lions in the third round of the 1957 NFL draft. He played at defensive halfback and returned an interception for a touchdown in Detroit’s NFL Championship victory over Cleveland. Barr performed capably in the defensive backfield, receiving second-team All-NFL honors from the New York Daily News in ’58, until being shifted over to flanker on offense in 1959. He shared the position with Howard “Hopalong” Cassady and posted modest numbers, but broke out with 40 catches for 630 yards (15.8 avg.) and six touchdowns in 1961. However, Barr was limited to six games in ’62 due to a knee injury that required surgery and there were concerns regarding his health heading into the 1963 season.

1963 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 66 [3] 
Most receptions, game – 10 (for 135 yds.) at San Francisco 11/3
Yards – 1086 [4]
Most yards, game – 135 (on 10 catches) at San Francisco 11/3
Average gain – 16.5 [17]
TDs – 13 [1, tied with Gary Collins]
100-yard receiving games – 6

Rushing
Attempts – 1
Yards – 9
TDs – 0

Scoring
TDs – 13 [2, tied with Gary Collins]
Points – 78 [7, tied with Gary Collins]

Awards & Honors:
2nd team All-NFL: AP, NEA
1st team All-Western Conference: Sporting News
Pro Bowl

Lions went 5-8-1 to finish tied for fourth with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL Western Conference.

Aftermath:
Barr followed up with another Pro Bowl year in 1964, catching 57 passes for 1030 yards (18.1 avg.) and nine TDs. However, another knee injury cost him half the season in ’65 and he retired. Overall, in nine seasons all spent with the Lions, Barr had 227 catches for 3810 yards (16.8 avg.) and 35 touchdowns. He ran the ball for 151 yards and another two TDs and returned 26 kickoffs for a 25.2-yard average and a TD and 50 punts for a 5.2-yard average. On defense, he intercepted five passes. Barr was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970