Barry Switzer (created October 5, 1937) is a former football coach. He’s among the best winning percentages of any school football coach ever, and is one of just three head coaches to win both a college football national championship as well as a Super Bowl, the others being Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll.
Switzer resurfaced in training in 1994 with the Dallas Cowboys. Switzer stepped in following the departure of Jimmy Johnson, who as head coach had won the last two Super Bowls. Johnson had collided with owner Jerry Jones (leading to his departure) and many believed that Switzer was more inclined to cooperate with Jones’ thoughts. Yet, in the match he was criticized for making two crucial mistakes. In the very first half, with all the Cowboys down 24-14, he preferred to not run out the clock, giving the 49ers an opportunity to score one last touchdown before the half finished. Afterwards, in the fourth quarter, with all the Cowboys still down 38-28 and attempting to beat up, he was penalized for touching an official along with his hip while showing how San Francisco’s Deion Sanders had committed pass interference against Dallas’ Michael Irvin–which hadn’t been called. This stopped the Cowboys’ chances of a recovery. In August 1997, Switzer was detained following a loaded .38-caliber revolver was discovered in his bag in the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Switzer, who had been returning to the team’s training camp facility in Austin, said there were kids at his Dallas home and he set the gun in his bag to conceal it from them. He explained he inadvertently forgot to take out the firearm in the bag before heading to the airport. Two days after, he was fined $75,000 by Jones. Following a disappointing 6-10 season in 1997, Switzer stepped down as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys with a 40–24 livelihood NFL training record.
Becky Switzer (m. 2000), Kay McCollum (m. 1963–1981)
Parents
Mary Louise Switzer, Frank Switzer
Siblings
Donnie Switzer
Nicknames
The King
Movies
Any Given Sunday, Varsity Blues
TV Shows
Fox NFL Sunday, BCS Selection Show
Star Sign
Libra
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Fact
1
He and 'Jimmy Johnson' (III), whom he succeeded as the Cowboys' head coach in 1994, are the only coaches to win both a national championship and a Super Bowl. (Johnson guided the Miami Hurricanes to the No. 1 ranking in 1987, after beating Switzer's Oklahoma Sooners 20-14 in Orange Bowl.).
2
As an assistant football coach at the University of Arkansas in the 1960s, two of his players were Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson. Jones purchased the NFL's Dallas Cowboys in 1989, and in 1994, hired Switzer to replace Johnson.
3
Coached football player-turned-actor Brian Bosworth at Oklahoma from 1983-1986.
4
Head coach of Oklahoma University football team from 1973-1988, guiding the Sooners to national championships in 1974, '75, and '85.
5
Head coach of the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, 1994-1997.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Any Given Sunday
1999
Dallas Announcer
Varsity Blues
1999
Bronco Coach
Arli$$
1998
TV Series
Possums
1998
Prattville Coach
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Neighborhood Sessions: Toby Keith
2015
TV Movie documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Football Life
2012-2016
TV Series
Himself
Undisputed
2016
TV Series
Himself
30 for 30
2010-2015
TV Series documentary
Himself
Through These Gates
2013
Documentary
Himself
Mike & Mike
2010
TV Series
Himself - Telephone Interviewee
Pardon the Interruption
2009
TV Series
Himself
Saving Grace
2008
TV Series
Himself
Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith
2006
TV Series
Himself
Sooner Magic
2005
Video documentary
Himself
The Complete History of the Philadelphia Eagles
2004
Video documentary
Himself
ESPN SportsCentury
2000-2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
WWE Raw
1998
TV Series
Himself
NFL Monday Night Football
1994-1997
TV Series
Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
The NFL on NBC
1994-1997
TV Series
Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
TNT Sunday Night Football
1995-1997
TV Series
Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
NFL on FOX
1994-1996
TV Series
Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
Super Bowl XXX
1996
TV Special
Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
1995 NFC Championship Game
1996
TV Special
Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
1994 NFC Championship Game
1995
TV Special
Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
Coach
1990
TV Series
Himself
1989 Latrobe Valley Football League Grand Final
1989
TV Movie
Himself - Commentator
1986 Orange Bowl
1986
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
1985 Orange Bowl
1985
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
1981 Orange Bowl
1981
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
1980 Orange Bowl
1980
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
1979 Orange Bowl
1979
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
1978 Orange Bowl
1978
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
1976 Fiesta Bowl
1976
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
1976 Orange Bowl
1976
TV Movie
Himself - Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mike & Mike
2014
TV Series
Himself - FOX Football Anyst
30 for 30
2010
TV Series documentary
Himself
Rome Is Burning
2008
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
Super Bowl XXX (1996) as Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach
The Complete History of the Philadelphia Eagles (2004) as Himself
NFL Monday Night Football (1994-1997) as Himself - Dallas Cowboys Head Coach