Barney Chavous

Barney Lewis Chavous ( ; born March 22, 1951) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for South Carolina State Bulldogs. He was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team defensive end on the 1972 Little All-America college football team. He was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 1973 NFL draft. He played 13 seasons with the Broncos, during which time the team had 11 winning seasons. At the time he retired, he was the Broncos all-time leader in quarterback sacks, and is fourth all-time (through 2025). He was part of the Broncos "Orange Crush Defense" that led the Broncos to Super Bowl XII.

Early life Chavous was born on March 22, 1951, in Aiken, South Carolina. His family went back seven generations in Aiken, and he worked on his family farm as a child. He graduated from Schofield High School in Aiken, where he started playing on the school's football team as a 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 210 lb (95.3 kg) junior.

In 1972, as a senior, he was the first South Carolina State player ever invited to play in the North-South Shrine Game in Miami. He was surprised how high he was chosen, anticipating a possible selection in the fifth or sixth round; and was also surprised that Denver drafted him as he was not aware of their interest in him before then. It was reported in late July 1973 the Broncos began using Chavous as their starting left defensive end in training camp; and reported in August that he played left defensive end in 1973 preseason games, with Pete Duranko moved to tackle to make room for Chavous at end. It was reported the following August that Chavous had started every Broncos' game in the 1973 season at defensive end. Chavous was named the National Football League Players Association Rookie of the Year and Pittsburgh Courier Rookie of the Year, and United Press International and Pro Football Weekly named him to their All-Rookie teams at defensive end. In a September game against the Pittsburgh Steelers that ended in a 35–35 tie, Chavous and teammate Bill Thompson blocked a 25-yard Roy Gerela field goal attempt that could have won the game for the Steelers.

In 1975, Chavous started nine games at left defensive end, with 4.5 sacks. He was unable to play in five games that season because of a knee injury. He returned to play all 14 games in 1976, with eight sacks. The Broncos were 9–5 on the season. The Broncos defense allowed the sixth fewest points in the NFL that season, and gave up the third fewest rushing yards in the league. The Broncos switched to a 3–4 defense in 1976. Though there would be a number of right defensive ends in the Broncos' three-man defensive line from 1976 to 1985, Chavous was the starting left defensive end and Rubin Carter was the starting nose tackle for those 10 years.

In 1977, Chavous was part of Denver's Orange Crush Defense that was ranked first in rushing defense, and set an NFL record in allowing the fewest fourth quarter points. and All-Pro outside linebacker Tom Jackson.

Chavous started 11 games at left defensive end, with eight quarterback sacks (tied for the team lead with Alzado). Chavous had 51 tackles and 31 assisted tackles during the regular season. The team finished the season 12–2, and made the playoffs for the first time in Chavous's career. The Broncos won the AFC championship, and played in Super Bowl XII, losing to the Dallas Cowboys, 27–10. Chavous started the Super Bowl at left defensive end. The Pittsburgh Courier named him Defensive Lineman of the Year. Chavous started all 16 games for the Broncos at left defensive end for four consecutive seasons, from 1978 to 1981. He had four sacks each of those seasons, except 1980 when he had 4.5. The Broncos were 10–6 again in 1979, losing in the wild card playoff round to the Houston Oilers, 13–7. Chavous had one sack against Oilers' quarterback Dan Pastorini in that playoff game, for an 11-yard loss. Pastorini suffered a groin injury on the play, and missed the rest of the game.

Chavous played all nine games of the strike-shortened 1982 season, with five sacks. In the season’s last game, he recorded the only safety of his career against Dave Krieg of the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos were 2–7 in 1982, but had winning seasons during Chavous's last three seasons, and were in the playoffs twice. Although he suffered a groin injury in 1983, Chavous started 13 games, with two forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. In a November game against the Los Angeles Raiders, Broncos’ linebacker Tom Jackson sacked quarterback Jim Plunkett and stripped the ball. Chavous recovered the fumble in the endzone for the sole touchdown of his career.

The Broncos were 13–3 in 1984, finishing first in the AFC's West Division. The 33-year old Chavous started 15 games, with 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He missed only one game even though he had torn rib cartilage that season. The Broncos lost to the Steelers in the divisional round of the playoffs, 24–17. Chavous had a tackle for loss during the playoff game. Although still a starter, he shared time at left defensive end with Walt Bowyer that season.

In Chavous's final season (1985), the Broncos were 11–5, but did not make the playoffs. Chavous ended his 13-year Bronco career by starting 15 games with six sacks and one fumble recovery. Chavous announced his retirement in August 1986. At the time he retired, Chavous was the Broncos' all-time sack leader. Chavous believed that playing in the 3–4 defense increased the number of double teams from offensive lines that he had to face, and reduced the number of quarterback sacks he could have gotten if he had played more games in a 4–3 defense. In May 1998, he was inducted into the South Carolina State University Athletics Hall of Fame. In April 2024, he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

Chavous was known for being softspoken off the field, and for his hard work in physically preparing to play in NFL games, missing very few games over his long career. Now he works as a team sports coach at Tutt Middle school in Augusta, Georgia.