| Marvin Cobb | |
| Number: | 24, 26, 25 |
| Position: | Safety |
| Birth Date: | 6 August 1953 |
| Birth Place: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Weight Lb: | 189 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| High School: | Notre Dame (Riverside, California) |
| College: | USC |
| Draftyear: | 1975 |
| Draftround: | 11 |
| Draftpick: | 276 |
| Teams: | |
| Highlights: |
|
| Statlabel1: | Interceptions |
| Statvalue1: | 13 |
| Statlabel2: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statvalue2: | 3 |
| Statlabel3: | Defensive TDs |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Pfr: | CobbMa20 |
Marvin Lawrence Cobb (born August 6, 1953) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 11th round of the 1975 NFL draft.[1] He played high school football at Notre Dame High School in Riverside, California, and college football for the USC Trojans, where he also played shortstop on the baseball team.[1] With USC, Cobb played on 2 College World Series champion baseball teams (1973 and 1974) and 2 National Champion football teams (1972 and 1974).[2]
Cobb played 5 seasons for the Bengals, from 1975 to 1979. During those five years he played in 71 games, starting 54 and making 13 interceptions, playing as both a free safety and strong safety.[1] He also served as a kick returner occasionally, returning five punts and one kickoff between 1975 and 1977.[1] In 1977, he also got to play a little on offense. In a game against the San Diego Chargers on October 2, Cobb threw an incomplete pass.[3] In a Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 17, Cobb got one rushing attempt but did not gain any yardage.[4] Cobb also played for the Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, splitting eight games between the two teams in 1980.[1] He also served as a kick returner for the Steelers.[1]
In 1986, Cobb became an assistant athletic director at USC.[5] Cobb was outspoken about the fact that black athletes at USC were graduating at a lower rate than white students and he did not see anything being done to assist those students.[5] After Cobb was denied a promotion in 1990 or 1991, he sued the university for racial discrimination and breach of contract, saying that the university denied the promotion because his advocacy for its black athletes.[5] [6] USC was represented by Johnnie Cochran, who later represented O. J. Simpson in his murder trial and in a turn of events similar to an issue in that trial, it was revealed that some USC employees had suggested framing Cobb for a fake drug bust.[7] Cobb was eventually awarded $1.1 million.[5]
Cobb has also been active in raising awareness of the impact football injuries can have on players later in life.[8] He has also been active in attempting to increase pension and medical benefits for former players.[9] He became a director of the Independent Retired Players Summit.[8] [9] He is also president of the Retired NFL Players Congress.[10]