Former Cowboys Running Back Marion Barber III Found Dead At 38, Cause Unknown

Cowboy's Marion Barber in 2007 (Image: Wikimedia)

Tragic news out of Frisco, Texas as former Dallas Cowboy’s running back Marion Barber III was found dead in his apartment on Wednesday morning. Dallas police stated that they went to Barber’s apartment to conduct a welfare check and were investigating an unattended death there. Police also say that there seem to be no signs of foul play.

Marion Barber Cause Of Death

The Dallas Cowboys expressed their grief in a statement, “We are heartbroken by the tragic death of Marion Barber III. Marion was an old-school, hard-nosed football player who ran with the will to win every down. He had a passion for the game and a love for his coaches and teammates. Our hearts go out to Marion’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

Barber was a standout player at the University of Minnesota, where his father and two younger brothers also played. Barber played four seasons with the Golden Gophers, rushing for over 3200 yards and 35 touchdowns, good for third all-time in program history. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

He spent six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, rushing for 47 touchdowns which are fourth all-time in Cowboys’ history. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2007 after rushing for a career-high 975 yards and recording twelve touchdowns. He put up these numbers despite not being the lead back In Dallas. His hard-nosed style quickly made Barber a fan favorite and he earned the nickname “Marion the Barbarian.”

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Following his release from the Cowboys, Barber also played one season with the Chicago Bears, who also released a statement regarding his death, “We are saddened to learn of the passing of former Bears RB Marion Barber III,” the Bears said. “Our hearts go out to his family & friends.”

Barber had been in the news before, once in 2014 when he was detained by police and given a mental health evaluation, and once in 2019 when he was arrested on misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief that occurred in 2018. Allegedly, Barber damaged two cars while he was running. Barber has also been hospitalized multiple times due to mental health evaluations. Former teammate Dev Bryant had tweeted out a statement on Barber about a year ago, expressing his concern for the former running back’s mental health.

Barber would have turned 39 on June 10.