Ronde Barber
Encyclopedia
Jamael Orondé "Rondé" Barber (born April 7, 1975) is an American football
cornerback
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football
at Virginia
.
, and was a standout in football
, wrestling
, and track
. In football, he was a three time All-District selection. In track, he won the national title in the 55-meter hurdles as a senior.
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
out of the University of Virginia
. His brother Tiki
was also drafted the same year, but went a round earlier than Ronde to the New York Giants
. In his first season with the Bucs, Barber was unable to force his way into the lineup and played little, making a rare appearance in one game in the 1997 season (he did earn the nickel back job in the playoffs). However, Barber had clearly made an impression on the then Bucs Head Coach Tony Dungy
, and in his second season Barber started nine games, recording 81 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions. On November 25, 2007, he took the record from Donnie Abraham
for the most interceptions in Buccaneers team history by catching his 32nd against the Washington Redskins
. He is the longest-tenured member of the team. He is the active leader in consecutive starts for a non-kicker, and is tied with London Fletcher
for consecutive games played for a non-kicker.
Barber had a memorable 92-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2002 NFC Championship game versus quarterback Donovan McNabb
and the Philadelphia Eagles
. He and the Bucs won Super Bowl XXXVII
in a 48–21 victory over the Oakland Raiders
.
On December 11, 2005, in a game against the Carolina Panthers
, he became the first cornerback in the history of the NFL to record at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks
in his career. He became the ninth member of the 20/20 Club, joining linebackers Jack Ham, Donnie Edwards
, Seth Joyner
, Wilber Marshall
, William Thomas
and Ray Lewis and safeties Rodney Harrison
, Brian Dawkins
, and LeRoy Butler
.
Barber is the active leader in defensive touchdowns scored (7 interception returns, 4 fumble returns). There are two players ahead of him on the all-time list for career defensive TDs: Darren Sharper
(11 interception returns, 2 fumble returns) and Hall of Famer Rod Woodson
(12 interception returns, 1 fumble return). Barber also has scored a touchdown on a blocked punt, a blocked field goal attempt, and a punt return. He has scored 14 total touchdowns in the regular season and 1 in the postseason.
He was voted onto the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team roster at the cornerback position. The full team was announced on January 31, 2010 during the pregame show for the 2010 Pro Bowl.
On November 21, 2010 Ronde Barber became the only player in NFL history with at least 25 sacks (26 total) and 40 interceptions with a 21–0 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His jersey and gloves from the game were subsequently retired to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Barber has recorded at least one sack for 14 consecutive seasons.
On September 25, 2011 Barber picked off Matt Ryan to record his 41st career pick. In week 3, he was named NFC defensive player of the week. On October 23rd, he recorded his first career safety. On November 6, 2011 he collected his 42nd career interception off Drew Brees
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Early years
Barber attended Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, VirginiaRoanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, and was a standout in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In football, he was a three time All-District selection. In track, he won the national title in the 55-meter hurdles as a senior.
Professional career
Barber was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
out of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. His brother Tiki
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
was also drafted the same year, but went a round earlier than Ronde to the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In his first season with the Bucs, Barber was unable to force his way into the lineup and played little, making a rare appearance in one game in the 1997 season (he did earn the nickel back job in the playoffs). However, Barber had clearly made an impression on the then Bucs Head Coach Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
, and in his second season Barber started nine games, recording 81 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions. On November 25, 2007, he took the record from Donnie Abraham
Donnie Abraham
Nathaniel Donnell "Donnie" Abraham , is a former American football cornerback. In his career, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets . After considering retirement since the 2004 season ended, he finally decided to do so on July 15, 2005. He is now the head coach for Gibbs...
for the most interceptions in Buccaneers team history by catching his 32nd against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He is the longest-tenured member of the team. He is the active leader in consecutive starts for a non-kicker, and is tied with London Fletcher
London Fletcher
London Levi Fletcher-Baker is an American football linebacker who has played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League since 2007. Undrafted in 1998, he was signed by the St. Louis Rams as a rookie free agent, where he spent four seasons. In 2002, he was signed to the Buffalo...
for consecutive games played for a non-kicker.
Barber had a memorable 92-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2002 NFC Championship game versus quarterback Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He and the Bucs won Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
in a 48–21 victory over the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
On December 11, 2005, in a game against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, he became the first cornerback in the history of the NFL to record at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
in his career. He became the ninth member of the 20/20 Club, joining linebackers Jack Ham, Donnie Edwards
Donnie Edwards
Donnie Edwards is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, Seth Joyner
Seth Joyner
Seth Joyner is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. Joyner graduated from Spring Valley High School.-Professional career:Joyner was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the...
, Wilber Marshall
Wilber Marshall
Wilber Buddyhia Marshall is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for twelve seasons during the 1980s and 1990s...
, William Thomas
William Thomas (American football)
William Harrison Thomas is a former American football linebacker for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders franchises....
and Ray Lewis and safeties Rodney Harrison
Rodney Harrison
Rodney Scott Harrison is a retired professional football player of the National Football League. Harrison played safety for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots...
, Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins
Brian Patrick Dawkins is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, and LeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler, III is a former American football strong safety who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers . He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy...
.
Barber is the active leader in defensive touchdowns scored (7 interception returns, 4 fumble returns). There are two players ahead of him on the all-time list for career defensive TDs: Darren Sharper
Darren Sharper
Darren Mallory Sharper is an American football safety who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at William & Mary....
(11 interception returns, 2 fumble returns) and Hall of Famer Rod Woodson
Rod Woodson
Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...
(12 interception returns, 1 fumble return). Barber also has scored a touchdown on a blocked punt, a blocked field goal attempt, and a punt return. He has scored 14 total touchdowns in the regular season and 1 in the postseason.
He was voted onto the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team roster at the cornerback position. The full team was announced on January 31, 2010 during the pregame show for the 2010 Pro Bowl.
On November 21, 2010 Ronde Barber became the only player in NFL history with at least 25 sacks (26 total) and 40 interceptions with a 21–0 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His jersey and gloves from the game were subsequently retired to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Barber has recorded at least one sack for 14 consecutive seasons.
On September 25, 2011 Barber picked off Matt Ryan to record his 41st career pick. In week 3, he was named NFC defensive player of the week. On October 23rd, he recorded his first career safety. On November 6, 2011 he collected his 42nd career interception off Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
.
Personal life
Barber lives in Tampa with wife Claudia and daughters Yammile Rose and Justyce Rosina. He is the identical twin of Tiki BarberTiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....