Gary attended Washington Preparatory High School, where he was a two-way player in football.
As a senior, he registered 3 tackles and intercepted a pass in the final minutes, to secure a win against Arizona State University.
[3] On May 12, 1983, he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Rams to play nose tackle.
[6] In 1984, he was signed as a free agent by the Oklahoma Outlaws of the United States Football League.
On December 18, 1984, he was signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Stars of the United States Football League, to play defensive end.