Princeton’s Overlooked NFL Ironman

When asked to name a Princetonian who played in the NFL, a few come to mind. There is Andrei Iosivas ’23, current Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver. Or former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and coach Jason Garrett ’89. Or Super Bowl winner Bob Holly ’82. However, for the Tiger who played the most years in the NFL and appeared in the most games, one name stands alone: Carl Barisich ’73, who spent nine seasons as a defensive tackle appearing in 102 games with four teams — the Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, and New York Giants. 

So how did Barisich get to Princeton, and how did his college experience prepare him for life in the NFL and beyond?  

Carl Barisich ’73 chases down Harvard quarterback Eric Crone in Princeton’s 1972 win over the Crimson.

Robert Matthews

Growing up in a middle-class family, Carl Barisich attended perennial athletic powerhouse Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey (about 70 miles north of Princeton). He excelled in football and track (shot put and discus) and was heavily recruited by many major universities. One of Barisich’s first recruiting trips was to Penn State, then the No. 2-ranked football team in the country. Legendary coach Joe Paterno actively took a particular interest in Barisich. But the recruiters did not realize that winning over this talented young athlete was only half the battle. They had to win over Barisich’s mother and father.  

Ironically, it was the recruiting visit from Dartmouth assistant coach Bob Casciola ’58 (a future Princeton head coach) that steered Barisich to Princeton. Barisich’s parents valued higher education even though neither of them had attended college. In addition to the academic side of college, they expected the experience to make Barisich a proper “gentleman.”  

So as Casciola was leaving Barisich’s home, his mother said, “You are truly a nice young man and truly a gentleman. Do you mind if I ask you where you went to school?” The answer was Princeton. Mrs. Barisich said right then and there, “I would very much like Carl to grow up and be a gentleman like you. I think I’ll send him to Princeton!” 

After a low-key recruiting visit to Princeton, Barisich made his decision to enroll there even though his parents needed to pay some of the costs without getting a “free ride” offered at other schools. 

In Barisich’s high school yearbook, he indicated that he wanted to be an engineer. He enrolled in the civil and geological engineering program. He starred on the undefeated freshman football team, and the following year started every game as a sophomore on the varsity. Unfortunately, Barisich suffered a knee injury in a preseason scrimmage against Rhode Island junior year, which knocked him out for the entire season. He rehabbed with a vengeance, and senior year he made the All-Ivy and All-East teams. He was also selected to play in the North-South Shrine Game.  

Barisich also excelled in track and field at Princeton. He held University records for both the shot put and the discus. His discus record was an illustration of his grit and determination. During a driving rainstorm at Cornell in May 1971, the throwing ring was filled with water. Carl decided to take off his cleats and threw barefoot on his record-setting toss.  

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Carl Barisich at Reunions in 1974 with ’73 classmates, from left, Dave Thompson, Tim Cassidy, and Rex Boder.

Courtesy of Jim DiOrio ’73

When NFL draft day came, Barisich was selected in the 11th round by the Browns. He made the team and played three seasons alongside All-Pro tackle Walter Johnson. He then was selected in the veterans’ draft and was an original member of the expansion Seahawks. The highlight of that year was playing in the Meadowlands against his hometown Giants. After Seattle, he played three years with the Dolphins under Hall of Fame coach Don Shula and ended his career in 1981 with the Giants. 

Barisich had an unusually long career for a defensive lineman, though without the celebrity bestowed on many pro athletes. He played in more than 100 games. He remembers some. He had lots of fun, plenty of disappointments, and survived them all, as did his family.  

Still, Barisich is realistic about the dark side of a career in professional football. “So far,” he recently told me, “I have all my marbles and can get around pretty well. Looking back at age 74, I have lots of arthritis and I have had five total joint replacements.  

“Since the early 2000s I have been part of an ongoing study at Boston University. They are trying to understand, diagnose, and treat CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) while the patient (for example me) is still alive. One of my toughest and most proud accomplishments was on my second trip to Boston University Hospital. I stayed perfectly still with a cage strapped to my head in an MRI machine for 117 minutes straight. I don’t recommend it. Fortunately, that night classmate Ed O’Lear picked me up and took me out for a nice steak dinner. After a few cocktails and lots of memories and laughs, the MRI echoes in my head finally subsided.  

“I am donating my brain and spinal column to BU when I die. My wife Donna thinks the docs might look for my brain at the wrong end of the spinal cord. Maybe it will help. CTE is no joke; I have lost several friends to it, and it is horrible to watch.” 

Carl Barisich and wife Donna on vacation in Iceland.

Courtesy of Carl Barisich

Today, Barisich considers himself very lucky. He has retired to Litchfield, Arizona, and stays busy as a full-time pool “engineer” (a fancy term for pool boy). He has been married to Donna for 52 years. She has always been at his side. They have had three great kids, all with loving spouses, and seven of the smartest and cutest grandkids on the planet.  

When asked of his NFL career, “Would you do it again?” His answer is, without hesitation, “You bet!” 

Jim DiOrio ’73 has been active in Princeton alumni activities since graduation, serving as the first the regional chairperson for the Alumni Schools Committee of Northwest New Jersey, president of the Class of 1973, and editor of the class’s 50th reunion book. In his business career, he held leadership positions in various actuarial and consulting firms.