Barry Foster, Pittsburgh Steelers' early-1990s running back, 1992 team MVP award winner and two-time Pro Bowl participant.
Barry Foster was born Dec. 8, 1968, in Hurst, Texas. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Arkansas. His coach, Ken Hatfield, used a Wishbone formation where Foster played fullback.
Former Steelers RB Barry Foster spent three seasons with the Razorbacks from 1987 to 1989. Twice in a row, in 1988 and 1989, the team won the Southwest Conference, finished in the top-15 rankings and played in the Cotton Bowl. Barry gave up his last college season after Hatfield left the program for a job at Clemson.
In the 1990 draft, Foster was selected by Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round at No. 128. He played his debut season on special teams, managing to get caught up in history: in the third quarter of Week 7's game against San Francisco, Barry came out for a kickoff return, but didn't catch the ball after the kick, believing that falling to the ground would make him as "dead" as a punt. The Niners players did not fail to take advantage of the gift and immediately scored a touchdown.
Foster started his second year with 121 yards on a carry in the game against Buffalo, but then injured his leg and missed much of the championship. He didn't become a base player until 1992, when Bill Cowher became head coach of the Steelers. Barry repaid the trust by gaining 1,690 yards and setting a new franchise record. In twelve games of the season, he gained over 100 yards, beating Franco Harris' accomplishment.
Over the next two seasons Foster also had decent production, but missed many games due to injuries. This eventually led to a younger Bam Morris taking his place in the lineup. Barry was traded to Carolina, but there he failed a physical and decided to end his career.
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Later that year, 1995, Foster did sign with the Bengals, but changed his mind two days later. In his own words, he felt like he was 60 years old at the age of 26. So mundane ended the career of the player, who in 1992 was dubbed "the new Barry Sanders.
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After retirement, Barry returned to Texas, where he works as a running backs coach for his high school team.