Joe Barry

Who is Joe Barry?

Joe Barry is the linebackers coach for the San Diego Chargers, former linebackers coach for the USC Trojans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the former defensive coordinator for the National Football League Detroit Lions. He is the son of former Detroit Lions assistant offensive line coach Mike Barry and the son-in-law of former Detroit Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli. Barry played linebacker at the University of Southern California. Prior to coaching at Detroit, Barry held assistant coaching positions within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers franchises, and in college football at the University of Southern California, Northern Arizona University and UNLV.

On December 21, 2008, at a press conference following the Lions' 42-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Detroit News sports columnist Rob Parker addressed a question about Barry to Marinelli, inquiring whether Marinelli wished that his daughter had "married a better defensive coordinator." The question was criticized as unprofessional and inappropriate. The next day, Parker wrote that the comment was "an attempt at humor" and not a malicious attack. Parker has not written for the Detroit News since, and has not attended any press conferences since the incident, including the one Marinelli gave following his dismissal as head coach of the Lions. On January 6, 2009, the Detroit News announced that Parker had resigned from the newspaper the previous week. Joe Barry returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as linebackers coach on January 16, later that day Head Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen were both relieved of their duties.