Cofield attended Cleveland Heights High School where he was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track.

Barry Cofield is among the Cleveland Heights High alumni featured in the book Every Tiger Has a Tale.

He finished with 197 tackles (88 solo), 6.5 sacks, and 15.5 stops for losses and registered 18 quarterback pressures with 8 pass deflections and a 16-yard interception return.

He played in every game as a true freshman in 2002 and registered 36 tackles (14 solo) with 2 stops for losses while causing and recovering a fumble in 12 contests.

Projected as a mid-third-round draft selection, Cofield was described by Sports Illustrated as an "athletic prospect who flashes ability" and "offers potential at defensive tackle or as a two-gap lineman.

On July 27, 2011, Cofield agreed to a six-year deal with the Washington Redskins that paid him $12.5 million in guaranteed money.

[8] Cofield would end up starting in all 16 games of the 2011 season and recorded 25 combined tackles, three sacks, and a new career high of eight pass deflections.

On November 14, 2012, during the Redskins' bye week in the 2012 season, Cofield was made a co-defensive captain after a team vote.