Education
Middleburg (Florida).
Middleburg (Florida).
He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville. Barnidge played college football at Louisville where he played in 48 games including 29 starts and recorded 108 receptions for 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He majored in sports administration.
Carolina Panthers
Barnidge was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. Barnidge"s main impact came on special-teams, in 2010 he lead the team with 17 special-teams tackles.
He would miss the whole 2011 NFL season with a broken ankle suffered in a preseason practice. In 2012, Barnidge recorded his first professional touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles on a 24-yard pass from Cam Newton.
Cleveland Browns
On March 14, 2013, Barnidge was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent.
During the 2015 NFL season, Gary 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). His nine touchdowns tied a Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome"s franchise record set in 1979. On December 10, 2015, Barnidge was signed to a 3-year extension worth around $12 million.
After the 2015 season, Barnidge made his first Pro Bowl, being voted as an alternate.
The organization hosted its first camp in China in March 2013.
While a member of the Cleveland Browns, Barnidge was on two episodes of Total Divas, an East! Network television show about WWE Divas going on dates with Rosa Mendes and Summer Rae.