Former IU football star Carl Barzilauskas dies at 72

Carl Barzilauskas, IU’s earliest NFL draft pick in the last 50 years, died in Bloomington on Dec. 20, 2023. He was 72.

Barzilauskas, a native of Waterbury, Conn., played football at Indiana University from 1970-73. A defensive tackle, Barzilauskas was a Sporting News All-American and played in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl All-Star Game.

Barzilauskas was selected by the New York Jets with the sixth overall pick in the 1974 NFL draft; the third-highest selection in program history. As a rookie, Barzilauskas recorded five sacks and won NFL Rookie Defensive Lineman of the Year. He was also runner-up behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Jack Lambert for the 1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Barzilauskas spent four years with the Jets before playing the last two seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers.

After retiring from football, Barzilauskas began a life of entrepreneurship. While he was still on the Jets, Barzilauskas opened Barzo’s Blitz, a bar in downtown Bloomington. Barzilauskas also opened Barzo’s Fitness Center on North Walnut Street in Bloomington before moving to 100 N. Curry Pike in Bloomington. The fitness center eventually became the Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Center with a second location in Mooresville at the Center for Hip and Knee Surgery. Barzilauskas had an interest in the treatment and rehabilitation of athletes after he suffered a career-ending neck injury with the Packers.

Barzilauskas was also a part of several real estate investments, including Realco, Small Town Properties, and First Care Associates. He was a partner and manager at several operating companies like A-1 Printing, First Health Care, which operated two walk-in medical clinics, Colorado Steakhouses in Bloomington and Indianapolis, and Advanced Medical, Inc.

Barzilauskas was the longtime president of the Indiana National Football League Players Association (INFLPA). He also was a member of the National Football Foundation (NFF), where he served as president of the Indiana chapter. Barzilauskas introduced an annual scholar-athlete banquet, where local athletes are rewarded postgraduate scholarships for their athletic, academic, and leadership accomplishments.

The Indiana Sports Writers and Sportscasters Association gave Barzilauskas the Joe Boland Award in 2000 for his service to the youth. He was also inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2000. The NFF recognized Barzilauskas as the Midwest Region recipient of the NFF Chapter Leadership Award at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City in 2005.

Barzilauskas is survived by his wife, Cathi D. (Harrah) Barzilauskas, and their son, Robert F. (Bo) Barzilauskas. He is also survived by three cousins, Robin Wessman, Michael Zukauskas, and John Zukauskas.

Bo won IndyStar Mr. Football and a state championship at Bloomington South in 1993 before playing college football at IU and Valdosta State. Carl Barzilauskas believed in manual labor to build smaller muscle groups, so before the 1993 season, he had Bo and some teammates pulling engine blocks on chains, digging ditches and flipping road tires in open fields.

Barzilauskas was an avid football fan. He and his family had season tickets to IU games until his bout with sepsis in the mid-2010s. Barzilauskas still frequently watched IU games from home. He rooted for the Colts and Patriots in the NFL.

Barzilauskas was described as as a “gentle giant” by his longtime friend Geoffrey Bradley. Bradley says that despite Barzilauskas’ intimidating 6-6, 280-pound stature, he was a good guy.

Visitation for Carl will take place on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at The Funeral Chapel, 3000 E. Third St. in Bloomington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Nashville, Indiana. There will be a graveside service at Greenlawn Cemetery near Nashville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for postgraduate scholarships awarded to high school football scholar athletes may be made to the National Football Foundation, Central Indiana Chapter, 4922 West 16th Street, Indianapolis Indiana 46224.