Benny Barnes Benny Jewell Barnes ( born March 3 , 1951 in Lufkin , Texas ) is a former American Football cornerback who played eleven seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys . He is most famous for a questionable pass interference in Super Bowl XIII on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann . College career . After attending Kennedy High School of Richmond , he moved on to Contra Costa College where he was an all - conference linebacker for the football team and also an all - conference track and field athlete . In 1970 he transferred to Stanford University where he was converted from linebacker to safety , becoming a two - year starter and part of the “ Thunder Chickens ” defense , that was vey effective ( 9 of their 11 starters ended up playing professional football ) . He was an All - Pacific - 10 Conference selection as a senior . He helped teams led by Jim Plunkett in 1971 and Don Bunce in 1972 to two of the biggest upset victories ever in the Rose Bowl . Although he played just two years , he was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame and selected to the Stanford ' s All - Century Team . In 2011 he was inducted into the California Community College Athletic Association Hall of Fame . Professional career . Dallas Cowboys . In 1972 , he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys , and made the team based on his excellent special teams play on punt and kickoff coverage . By the end of the 1974 season he was a starter at right cornerback , but suffered a broken right ankle playing against the Cleveland Browns , an injury that would affect him the rest of his career ( three surgeries ) . Although he didn ' t have great athletic ability , he played hard and made plays , regainig in 1976 the starter position at left cornerback . In 1977 he was the starter for the Super Bowl XII winning team . His best season came in 1978 , when he led the team with 5 interception s , while still excelling on special teams . In Super Bowl XIII he was involved in one of the most controversial calls in Super Bowl history , when Lynn Swann ran up his back and both fell , resulting in a pass interference that gave the Pittsburgh Steelers the ball deep in Cowboys territory and an eventual crucial touchdown . In 1980 the Cowboys struggled with Barnes ( 6 games ) and Steve Wilson ( 10 games ) sharing the left cornerback position , so the next season he was moved to strong safety to make room for undrafted free agent Everson Walls . He was released in 1983 at the end of training camp , and replaced with undrafted free agent Bill Bates . Oakland Invaders ( USFL ) . In 1984 he signed with the Oakland Invaders of the USFL , reuniting with John Ralston his former Stanford University coach . He was released before the season started . Barnes retired after an 11 year career , where he was part of 8 NFC Championship Game s and 3 Super Bowl s . He is considered to be one of the best special teams players in Dallas Cowboys history . Personal life . Barnes spent some time investing in restaurants and is currently working at Contra Costa College as equipment manager . He is currently married , with three sons and one daughter .