Antwan Barnes (6-1, 251) is a sixth-year linebacker. He was acquired as a free agent in 2010.
To say that Antwan Barnes had a breakout season in 2011 would be an understatement. A reserve linebacker who had all of 9.5 sacks combined prior to last season, Barnes planted himself firmly on the NFL’s radar after an 11-sack season in ’11.
Barnes saved his biggest splash of 2011 for a nationally-televised contest against the Baltimore Ravens in mid-December, the team that drafted in him the fourth-round in 2007 and traded him to Philadelphia three years later. For Barnes, it was an opportunity at payback and NBC’s Sunday Night Football audience saw him sack Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco four times, tied for the most in a game by an NFL player all season. Barnes started five games for the Chargers in 2011, the first starts of his NFL career, and tied for 11th in the league in sacks. Barnes enjoys spending time with his family, bowling, playing cards and music. He played the trumpet and drums in his middle school band and will still occasionally pick up a trumpet and belt out a few tunes. He’s also considering a career in the music industry after football. Barnes was raised primarily by a single mom and his grandmother, Addie Arrington, who passed in 2001. Seeing the struggles they both endured, Barnes recently started the Antwan Barnes Foundation. His goal is to help single mothers get a fresh start, while providing college scholarships to children raised by a single mother. As part of his foundation, Barnes held a free football camp for kids ages 6-17 this summer at his alma mater, Norland High School in Miami.
Signed in October 2010 after the Chargers’ defense was racked by injury, Barnes made an immediate impact and provided the Chargers with a burst of speed off the edge. Two key red-zone sacks against Tom Brady of the New England Patriots marked his coming out party just 11 days after Barnes signed his contract with the Bolts.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round pick (134) by BAL, April 29, 2007...signed with Ravens, July 12...traded to PHI, Sept. 4, 2010...waived, Oct. 9...signed with SD, Oct. 13.
2011: Made two big plays in the second half against Minnesota in Week 1...on the last play of the third quarter, his pressure on third-down helped force an incomplete pass and a punt...on the ensuing drive, Scifres kicked a 40-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17...then late in the fourth quarter, Barnes’ 10-yard sack on third-down capped off a three-and-out and the Chargers offense ran out the clock on the ensuing possession to close out the win..Set up second-quarter field goal drive for 10-0 lead with sack and forced fumble on third-down play to force a Kansas City punt in Week 3...was team’s only sack...started for an injured Shaun Phillips Week 8 against Kansas City..his six-yard sack on a 3rd-and-9 on the first series of the third quarter closed out a Chiefs three-and-out...Tied his career high with two sacks Week 9 against Green Bay…a would-be third sack was negated by a penalty away from the play late in the contest...Barnes’ sack and forced fumble set up the Chargers’ second TD of the game Week 10 against Oakland after Corey Liuget recovered...Barnes’ pressure of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick contributed toward an interception Week 14 against Buffalo, which bounced off the back of a defending Na’il Diggs deep down the middle…it was Barnes’ 8th pressure this season, second on the team behind Shaun Phillips’ nine…Barnes later had a sack, his team-leading seventh of the season...Had a career-high four sacks Week 15 against Baltimore, giving him 11 for the season. In his fifth NFL season, Barnes had a total of 9.5 for his career coming into 2011.
2010: Career-high two sacks, both on red-zone 3rd-down plays Oct. 24 vs. New England...sacks resulted in 19 yards in losses and forced two field goal attempts...added three quarterback pressures, all on 3rd-down plays to force punts... team-high three quarterback pressures in Nov. 22 win vs. Denver.
2009: First-career interception off Philip Rivers Sept. 20 at SD...sacks vs. DET Dec. 13 and at PIT Dec. 27...sack and FF in 21-13 win vs. OAK Jan. 3, 2010.
2008: Career-high nine special teams tackles...inactive Week 16 and all three playoff games (chest).
2007: First-career sack on Tom Brady Dec. 3 vs. NE...sack at MIA Dec. 16.
COLLEGE: First-team All-Sun Belt as junior and senior...school’s all-time sacks leader(23)...finished career with 224 tackles...redshirted in 2003...played at Florida International from 2003-07...elementary education major.
PERSONAL: Born in Miami, Florida...all-state linebacker led Norland High School in Miami to Class 6A state title as senior...two-time district champion wrestler.
