Garry Cobb

Garry Wilbert Cobb (born March 16, 1957 in Carthage, North Carolina) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League and current radio and television personality on FOX-29 and 94-WIP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the Republican nominee for Congress in the House election for New Jersey's 1st congressional district.

Early years

Cobb often tells amusing stories on the radio about what it was like growing up under the guidance of his discipline and education-minded father, Jesse Cobb and encouraging and loving mother, Catherine Cobb, who raised him and his three brothers, James, Michael and Tony, and three sisters, Theresa, Marilyn and Brenda in North Carolina and Connecticut. James and Theresa went to Dartmouth College. Garry attended USC. Marilyn went to UConn and Michael went to Cornell. Tony attended NYU and Brenda went to Butler Business School.

A 1975 graduate of Stamford High School in Stamford, Connecticut, he was a standout for the Black Knights and a two-sport All-American in baseball and football. He was also All-State in basketball.

College career

Cobb played football and baseball (two years) at the University of Southern California. He played on two Rose Bowl Championship teams and one National Championship team during his senior year in 1978-79. The USC football teams he played on were some of the most talented college football teams ever assembled. Those teams included three NFL Hall of Famers, Anthony Munoz, Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen. In addition Cobb played with future NFL stars such as Ricky Bell, Charles White, Eric Williams, Rod Martin, David Lewis, Clay Matthews, Chip Banks, Riki Ellison, Gary Jeter, Dennis Thurman, Dennis Smith, Larry McGrew, Mosi Tatupu, Roy Foster, Keith Van Horn, William Gay, Lynn Cain, Vince Evans, Brad Budde, Danny Reece, Jeff Fisher, Hoby Brenner, Calvin Sweeney, Byron Darby, Kevin Williams, Dennis Edwards, August Curley, Steve Busick, Rich Dimler, Tim Lavender, Carter Hartwig, Rod Connors, Rob Hertel, Ricky Odom, Mario Celotto, Mike Burns, Ron Bush, Clint Stormier, Dave Farmer, Joe Davis, Doug Hogan, John Schumacher, Walt Underwood, Pat Howell, Chris Foote, Paul McDonald, Dennis Johnson, Ray Butler, Myron Lapka, and etc.

Garry played outside and inside linebacker during his four years as a Trojan and earned Honorable-Mention All-Pac-10 in 1978, despite missing part of the season with a thigh injury. He decided to major in Sociology while at University of Southern California. Cobb was also an outfielder on the baseball team during his first two years at USC and talked to scouts from the California Angels and Chicago Cubs about a baseball career, but his heart was set on playing football in the National Football League.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

Cobb was selected in the ninth round (247th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He was waived on August 21.^[1]

Detroit Lions

He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions on October 24, 1979.^[2] He played mainly on the special teams units during his first two years, until becoming a full-time starter at strongside linebacker in 1981, while recording 127 tackles (second on the team), 3 interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.

In 1982, he missed three games with a knee injury and finished with 26 tackles, 2 interceptions and four passes defensed. The next year he registered 109 tackles (fourth on the team), 4 interceptions (tied for second on the team), 2 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles and one sack.

Cobb was a three-time defensive captain and also helped the Lions reach the playoffs in 1982 and 1983.

After holding out during the 1985 offseason, the Lions started discussing trading him to the Miami Dolphins for the rights to Anthony Carter.^[3] After the deal fell through,^[4] he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Eagles then all-time leading rusher Wilbert Montgomery, who was also in the middle of a contract dispute.^[5]

Philadelphia Eagles

While with the Philadelphia Eagles, he started 39 of 44 games mostly at weakside linebacker. He was a teammate of quarterback Randall Cunningham and played in one of coach Buddy Ryan's most dominant defensive units which included Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner and Hall of Famer Reggie White.

In 1986, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. While playing against the Atlanta Falcons in week five, he registered 9 tackles, 4 sacks (team record), a pass defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a shutout win (16-0).^[6] He held the franchise single game sack record, until Clyde Simmons surpassed it with a 4.5 sack effort in 1991. He was released on August 22, 1988.^[7]

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On August 25, 1988, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent, and immediately became one of their best defensive players. He started 14 games at weakside linebacker was one of the team leaders in tackles and tied with Danny Noonan for the team lead with 7.5 sacks. After experiencing problems with his left knee and missing most of the season, he was cut on December 18, 1989.^[8]

Radio and TV career

After his retirement from football, Cobb transitioned to being a television and radio personality in the Philadelphia area. He developed a popular radio show on 610-WIP Sportsradio and was given the nickname "G Cobb".^[9] His trademark radio show expression became "G Cobb in the House!" In 1997, he became an anchor/sports reporter with CBS 3’s Eyewitness News Team and remained there for eight years.

Cobb still lives in the Philadelphia area and he's a frequent guest on FOX-29's morning show, Good Day Philadelphia, as he comes in to give his opinion on the Philadelphia Eagles. During the Eagles season, G. Cobb is an analyst on the FOX-29 Eagles pregame and post-game shows. G. continues to do a weekend afternoon radio show on 94-WIP as well as a Wednesday afternoon radio show on 610-WTEL. He writes a monthly article for the popular FootballStories Magazine, which circulates throughout the Delaware Valley.

Website publishing

Cobb is now the principal operator of a Philadelphia Eagles news and rumors website known as GCobb.com. The popular site now claims that 100,000 fans visit and read from the website monthly. In a notable scoop, it was two hours prior to the official start of the 2008 NFL free agency period when Cobb's site reported accurately that cornerback Asante Samuel had already reached a deal with the Eagles.^[10]

Run for Congress

Cobb is running for the Republican nomination for New Jersey's 1st congressional district.^[11] Cobb was initially recruited to potentially succeed another Republican and former Eagle, Jon Runyan.^[12] Cobb won the Republican nomination and faced Democrat Donald Norcross in November.^[9] The 1st Congressional District of New Jersey held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Donald Norcross (D) (93,315 votes), a New Jersey state senator, defeated Garry Cobb (R) (64,073 votes).

Personal life

Cobb resides in Cherry Hill, New Jersey with his wife Gwendolyn whom he met while in college. They have three adult children together - two daughters, and a son, Garry Cobb II, who played cornerback at Stanford University (1998–2002).^[13] He is known for his interest in urban youth and was honored in 2002 by then President George W. Bush for his work as a mentor to troubled youngsters. He is a member of the Board of the Caring People Alliance of Philadelphia, which oversees a number of city community center and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Philadelphia.

He is the author of a book entitled Don't Be Clueless: 7 Keys to Life in the Real World, which is targeted to the challenges of urban youth.

References

https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey%27s_1st_Congressional_District

External links

• Official Website
• Garry's Message: Respect Yourself The Cobbs: A Success Story X 7