Terry Albert Barr was a three-sport star at Central High, an MVP in football at the University of Michigan and an All-Pro receiver that helped the Detroit Lions win the 1957 NFL Championship.
Born in 1935, Barr lettered four times in track, three times in basketball, and twice in football at Central and was all-state in football and track where he was the state champion in the 440-yard dash in 1952 and 1953.
Barr played for the Wolverines from 1954 through ’56 as a halfback/return specialist and was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1955. During his junior and senior years, he contributed over 1,600 all-purpose yards to the Wolverines, including 611 rushing yards, 466 on punt and kickoff return yards, 306 passing and 140 receiving. In 1994 he was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.
Barr was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round (36th overall pick) of the 1957 NFL Draft and made an immediate impact. In that year’s NFL Championship game, he scored a pick-six touchdown as a defensive back in leading the Lions to what in 2020 remained as the last championship in franchise history.
Principally used as a defensive back and return specialist, Barr switched to wide receiver later in his career and became one of the best pass receivers in the NFL. In 1963, he led the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions and was invited to play in his first Pro Bowl. In 1964, Barr was again selected to play in the Pro Bowl and again ranked among the NFL leaders with 1,030 receiving yards.
After retiring from football, Barr lived in his Bloomfield Hills home with his wife Shelley and three sons. He passed away in 2009 at age 73.