Barry Church

Barry Michael Church (born February 11, 1988) is a former American football safety.

Also a standout track & field athlete, Church was one of the state's top performers in the triple jump event, and captured the state title at the 2005 PTFCA Indoor State Championships with a leap of 14.32 meters (46 ft, 7 in).

He also recorded a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the Metro Index camp.

Church accepted a football scholarship from the University of Toledo, where he was a four-year starter at safety.

As a freshman, he registered 76 tackles (second on the team) and 4 interceptions, including 2 returned for touchdowns (tied school record).

Church had 10 tackles against Iowa State University.

He returned an interception 84 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown in a 37-31 victory over the University of Kansas, that included two overtime periods.

Church was named second-team freshman All-American by The Sporting News.

As a sophomore, Church posted 92 tackles (third on the team), six tackles for loss (second on the team), three interceptions (tied for the team lead) and 4 passes defensed.

He had a career-high 19 tackles (three for loss) against Iowa State University and had 13 tackles and one interception against Western Michigan University.

As a junior, Church collected 93 tackles (second on the team), 5.5 tackles for loss, 6 passed defensed (led the team), 3 forced fumbles (led the team), and an interception.

He had 10 tackles (one for loss) and one forced fumble against Miami University and made 10 tackles and one interception against Western Michigan University.

As a senior, Church was second on the team with 98 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble, two pass deflections, and three blocked kicks.

He had 14 tackles (three for loss) against Ball State University and blocked two field goals in the 20-19 win over Northern Illinois University, including the potential game-tying score with 37 seconds left.

Church was one of the semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award and also played in the East-West Shrine Game.

Church finished his collegiate career with 354 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 18 pass breakups, forced fumbles, and three blocked kicks.

He was selected first-team All-MAC four straight years, becoming the first Toledo and the third Mid-American Conference player ever to achieve that distinction.

He played college football at the University of Toledo and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010.

Church has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Church attended Penn Hills High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and track.

In football, Church recorded 80 tackles, nine sacks, and four interceptions while playing safety as a senior, that year he also played wide receiver, catching 30 passes for 670 yards and four touchdowns.

Church was named to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's "Terrific 25" team, second-team all-state Class AAAA, first-team Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League-East honors, and played in the Big 33 Football Classic.

On April 25, 2010, the Dallas Cowboys signed Church to a three-year, $1.22 million contract that includes a $3,500 signing bonus after he went undrafted during the 2010 NFL Draft.

Throughout training camp, Church competed for a roster spot as a backup safety against Michael Hamlin, Patrick Watkins, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, and Danny McCray.

Head coach Wade Phillips named Church the backup strong safety, behind veteran Gerald Sensabaugh, to start the regular season.

Church made his NFL debut during Week 2 against the Chicago Bears after being inactive for their season-opener.

He finished 27–20 loss with one assisted tackle.

Church made his first career tackle with teammate Danny McCray on Danieal Manning during a 21-yard kick return by Manning in the second quarter.

During Week 8, Church collected a season-high four combined tackles during a 35–17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

On November 9, 2010, the Cowboys fired head coach Wade Phillips after a 45–7 road loss to the Green Bay Packers and falling to a 1-7 record.

Church finished his rookie season with 20 combined tackles (15 solo) in 15 games and no starts.

He finished fourth on the team with 16 tackles on special teams.

Church returned to training camp in 2011 and competed for a role as a backup safety against Andrew Sendejo, Danny McCray, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, and Michael Hamlin.

New head coach Jason Garrett named him the backup behind Gerald Sensabaugh and Abram Elam to start the regular season.

During Week 4, Church recorded a season-high six combined tackles in a 34–30 loss to the Detroit Lions.

On December 11, 2011, he earned his first NFL start and recorded two solo tackles before leaving the eventual 37–34 loss to the New York Giants in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.

Church was placed on injured reserve two days later after discovering his shoulder would require surgery to repair the AC joint.

Church finished his second professional season with 28 combined tackles (21 solo) in 13 games and one start.

After two seasons of increasing playing time as a hybrid linebacker and safety, Church returned to training camp and competed for the job as the starting strong safety against Brodney Pool.

Church was named the starting strong safety, alongside free safety Gerald Sensabaugh, to start season.