Garry Cobb facts for kids

Garry Wilbert Cobb (born March 16, 1957) is a former American football player. He was a talented linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. Before turning professional, he played college football at the University of Southern California. After his football career, Garry became a sports analyst for the Philadelphia Eagles on TV and radio. He also briefly entered politics, running for Congress.

Early Life and High School

Garry Cobb grew up with his family in North Carolina and Connecticut. He often shares fun stories about his childhood. He graduated from Stamford High School in Stamford, Connecticut in 1975.

At Stamford High, he was a standout athlete. He was named an All-American in both baseball and high school football. He also played basketball for his school.

College Football Career

Garry Cobb earned a football scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC). He played for the USC Trojans football team. During his time there, his team won two Rose Bowl championships. They also won one National Championship.

For his first three years, he played as an outside linebacker. In his junior year, he was second on the team in tackles. As a senior in 1978, he moved to defensive end. He earned an honorable mention for the All-Pac-10 team. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in Sociology.

Garry also played baseball as a center fielder for two years in college. After graduating, he was offered contracts by two professional baseball teams. However, he chose to play in the National Football League instead.

Professional Football Career

Garry Cobb had a professional football career that spanned several teams. He was known for his strong play as a linebacker.

First Time with the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys picked Garry Cobb in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL draft. This was the 247th pick overall. However, he was released by the team on August 21, 1979.

Playing for the Detroit Lions

On October 24, 1979, Garry signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. For his first two years, he mainly played on special teams. In 1981, he became a full-time starter at strongside linebacker. That year, he made 121 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 2.5 sacks.

In 1982, he missed three games due to a knee injury. He finished with 33 tackles and 2 interceptions. The next year, in 1983, he had 150 tackles and 4 interceptions. He was a defensive captain for the Lions three times. He also helped the team reach the playoffs in 1982 and 1983. In 1984, he recorded 128 tackles and 3 sacks.

Time with the Philadelphia Eagles

In 1985, Garry Cobb was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He had 97 tackles and 5 sacks that year. In 1986, he made 102 tackles and 6 sacks. He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after a game against the Atlanta Falcons. In that game, he had 9 tackles and 4 sacks, which was a team record at the time.

While with the Eagles, he started 39 of 44 games, mostly as a weakside linebacker. He played alongside famous players like Randall Cunningham and Reggie White. He was part of a very strong defensive team under coach Buddy Ryan. He was released by the Eagles on August 22, 1988.

Second Time with the Dallas Cowboys

On August 25, 1988, Garry Cobb signed with the Dallas Cowboys again. He started 14 games at weakside linebacker. He had 104 tackles and led the team with 7.5 sacks. In one game against the New York Giants, he had 10 tackles and a sack. The next game, against the Atlanta Falcons, he recorded 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

In 1989, he had problems with his left knee and missed most of the season. He was released by the Cowboys on December 18, 1989.

Radio and TV Career

After retiring from football, Garry Cobb became a television and radio personality. He worked in the Philadelphia area. Fans often call him "G Cobb." His famous radio phrase is "G Cobb in the House!"

In 1997, he became a sports reporter for CBS 3's Eyewitness News Team. Today, he works for Fox affiliate WTXF-TV. He is an analyst for their Eagles pregame and postgame shows. In July 2007, Cobb also started writing Eagles columns for The Bulletin newspaper.

Website Publishing

Garry Cobb is also in charge of a website called GCobb.com. This site shares news and rumors about the Philadelphia Eagles. The site claims that over 100,000 fans visit it every month. In 2008, his site correctly reported that player Asante Samuel had made a deal with the Eagles. This was two hours before the official announcement.

Running for Congress

In 2014, Garry Cobb decided to enter politics. He ran for the Republican nomination for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This was for New Jersey's 1st congressional district. He won the Republican nomination.

In the general election, he faced Donald Norcross, a Democrat. Norcross won the election, defeating Cobb.

Personal Life

Garry Cobb lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey with his wife, Gwendolyn. They met in college. They have three adult children: two daughters and a son named Garry Cobb II. His son played football at Stanford University.

Garry is known for his interest in helping young people in cities. In 2002, he was honored by then-President George W. Bush for his work as a mentor. He also used to be on the board of the Caring People Alliance of Philadelphia. This group runs Boys & Girls Clubs and programs for older adults.

He has also written a book called Don't Be Clueless: 7 Keys to Life in the Real World. This book aims to help young people with challenges they face.