Ronde Barber

At 49 years old, Ronde Barber has this physical status:

Jamael Orondé "Rondé" Barber, born April 7, 1975, is a former American football cornerback and current sports broadcaster.

Barber played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League for the entire 16 years (NFL).

Tiki Barber, a former running back for the New York Giants, is the identical twin brother.

Barber grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, and played college football for the University of Virginia. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Ronde Barber in the third round as the 66th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft.

Barber was chosen to five Pro Bowls, three first team All-Pro picks, two second team All-Pro picks, and was named to the National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team over the course of his career.

In addition, he led all NFL interceptions in 2001 and is one of the Buccaneers' all-time interceptions leader and is one of the two main players of the 40/20 team (40+ interceptions, 20+ quarterback sacks) alongside Charles Woodson.

Barber won Super Bowl XXVII against the Oakland Raiders in 2002.

He also holds the record for the most consecutive starts by a defensive back.

In 2014, Barber was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Early years

The Barber twin boys were born five weeks early. Barber was born seven minutes before his identical twin brother Tiki Barber was born. He was named Jamael Oronde, which means "first born son." Tiki was a running back for the New York Giants.

Barber is the son of Geraldine Barber and Daniel X Brack. Barber played back at Virginia Tech and later in the World Football League. Bruce Arians, his roommate in college, was a boy. When Barber was a child, his parents divorced. Daniel X., a young struggling entertainer who was moving a lot, was not able to provide adequate financial assistance, and hardly he had time to visit his sons when they were growing up. Geraldine's mother Geraldine occupied two, often three jobs to help her three children. Tarik Barber, he and Tiki's older brother, has a Tarik Barber.

Barber graduated from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1993, and was a standout in football, wrestling, and track. Barber, a three-time All-District pick, was a three-time All-District pick in football. Barber captured the national championship in the 55-meter hurdles as a senior in 1993, a new record set in 7.18 seconds. In the 110-meter hurdles, he was timed at 14.05 seconds. He also won four Group AAA hurdles titles in indoor and outdoor track.

Personal life

Ronde Barber lives in Keystone, Florida. Claudia Patron, a Filipino American, married him in spring 2001. She worked as a market and event planner. Diabetic Charitable Services is now located in Diabetic Charitable Services. They have two children, Yammile Rose and Justyce Rosina.

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College career

Barber was awarded an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Virginia, where he competed for the Virginia Cavaliers football team. He redshirted the 1993 season and spent with the Cavaliers from 1994 to 1996 as a defensive back. He was also a kick returner in 1994 and 1996; in 1994, Barber had returned 10 kickoffs for 171 yards; and in 1996, he returned 3 for 36 yards. Barber's career as a defensive back turned in 112 yards in his career with Virginia, including 8 for 56 yards in 1994, 4 for 18 yards in 1995, and 3 for 38 yards in 1996. Barber was named Freshman of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1994, and Barber received first-team All-ACC recognition in all his three seasons with Virginia. Barber was a member of the Virginia teams that defeated the 1994 Independence Bowl and the 1995 Peach Bowl in 1994. Barber made the 1997 NFL Draft after his junior season in 1996. Barber earned a bachelor's degree in commerce with a special emphasis on marketing in 1997. During Barber's time at UVa, he was a member of the IMP Society, one of the University's little societies.

Professional career

Barber declared on January 3, 1997, that he did not want to miss his final season of eligibility and enter the 1997 NFL Draft. He was only the third player from the University of Virginia to enter the NFL draft with eligibility remaining.

In the third round (66th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Barber. Barber was the third underclassmen chosen in 1997 and was the tenth cornerback. The New York Giants selected Tiki Barber in the second round (36th overall). Following Rich and Ron Saul (1970), Reggie and Raleigh McKenzie (1985), and Keith and Kerry Cash (1991), Ronde and Tiki Barber became only the fourth pair of twins to be selected in a team in football history, following to Patrick and Keith Cash (1990). They were also the seventh set of twins to play in the league.

Barber, a rookie, appeared in only one game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 (September 28). Barber had three tackles. Tampa advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs, but the Green Bay Packers fell to them.

Barber played in all nine games (three as left cornerback and six as right cornerback), including 68 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 12 special teams tackles in his second season.

Barber appeared in all 16 games and started 15 as the right cornerback in 1999. Barber's record continued to improve from his previous seasons, with two interceptions (60 yards), one tackle, one suspended, and 16 passes deflected. Barber played both playoff games this season; the Buccaneers lost the NFC Championship game to eventual Super Bowl XXIV champion St. Louis Rams in November.

Barber played all 16 games in a season for the first time in his career. Barber set new career records in 1989 with 97 tackles, 20 passes deflected, and 5.5 sacks. Barber led all NFC defensive backs in sacks after he was fired with 5.5 sacks. He had two interceptions (46 yards), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and six special teams tackles. Barber was NFC Defensive Player of the Week for three tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a 24-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears on Week 2 (September 10). Vinny Testaverde, Barber, quarterback of Tampa, scored his first career touchdown after an intercept pass in Week 4 (September 24) to the New York Jets, defeating them 21-21. Barber made 5 tackles in the Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 31, a 21–3 loss.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Barber to a six-year, $18.50 million contract on April 9, 2001.

Barber played 16 of 16 regular season games in 2001, gaining 71 tackles, 1 sack, 14 passes deflected, and ten interceptions (86 yards). In the Week 15 (December 23) victory over the New Orleans Saints, Barber intercepted Aaron Brooks 36 yards for a touchdown. Barber played in his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro squads this season.

Barber made 79 tackles, 3 sacks, 17 passes deflected, and two interceptions for 9 yards in all 16 games this season. Barber was ranked first in total defense and passes defended in a Tampa secondary school. Barber appeared in all three playoff games, including Tampa's Super Bowl XXVII triumph.

Barber picked off a pass from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb in the fourth quarter to win Tampa's 27-10 road victory and return the interception 92 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, bringing Veterans Stadium to near-silence. Because of Barber's return to action, Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer characterized this game as "the most shocking loss of Andy Reid's head coaching career." Rick Stroud, a Tampa Bay Times columnist, ranked Barber's interception return for touchdown in the NFC Championship game as the best scoring play in team history. In that game, Barber also deflected 4 passes. Barber made five tackles in Tampa's 48-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXVII on January 26, 2003.

Barber appeared in all 16 regular season games for the fourth straight season. Barber also made more tackles per year this year, totaling 97. In addition, Barber deflected 3 passes, returned two interceptions for 53 yards, and sparked three fumbles. Barber intercepted Peyton Manning's 29 yards for a touchdown in Week 5 (October 6), a 38–35 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Barber made 98 tackles, 3 sacks, 10 passes defense, 3 interceptions returned for 23 yards, and 2 forced fumbles in all 16 regular-season games. Barber made his second appearance in Pro Bowl history as a starter for the 2005 Pro Bowl. Barber has also received first-team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press this season. Tampa's pass defense was the best in the league for the second time since the 2002 Super Bowl championship season, and Tampa's total defense ranked in the top ten for the eighth straight season.

Barber had 99 tackles, 2 sacks, 15 runs blocked, and 5 interceptions returned for 105 yards in 16 games (all starts) in 2005. In Tampa's 10–3 victory over New Orleans, Barber intercepted three passes (returned for 70 yards) from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, including one in the end zone. He made his first cornerback in the NFL's history on December 11 with at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career in Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers. The Washington Redskins defeated Tampa 17–10, and Barber made 8 tackles in the Wild Card game. Barber made his third Pro Bowl appearance in the 2006 Pro Bowl.

Barber had 98 tackles and 13 passes deflected in 2006, starting 16 of 16 regular-season games. He had three interceptions for 103 yards; two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. Barber was the first Buccaneers player to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single regular-season game against Philadelphia on October 22 (Week 7) against Philadelphia. Tampa took a 17–0 lead late in the third quarter after Barber scored in the second quarter on a 37-yard return of an intercept from Donovan McNabb, with Barber's 66-yard interception return of a McNabb pass. Despite the Eagles' late comeback, Tampa defeated 23-21 on Matt Bryant's last-second field goal. In the 2007 Pro Bowl, Barber played his fourth career and third straight Pro Bowl.

Barber was voted defensive captain by the team prior to the season. Barber made 58 tackles, one was suspended, 14 interceptions deflected, two interceptions returned for 32 yards (including a 29-yard touchdown run) and one forced fumble. He tied for the most interceptions in Buccaneers team history on November 25, 2007, defeating the Washington Redskins for his 32nd touchdown. Barber returned an intercepted Chris Redman 29 yards for a touchdown in a 37-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Week 15 (December 16).

Barber made 75 tackles, 2 sacks, 12 passes blocked, and 4 interceptions for 69 yards in 2008, beginning 16 of 16 regular season games (including a 65-yard return for touchdown). Barber, a team defensive captain and the most recent Pro Bowl appearance in the 2009 Pro Bowl, made his fifth appearance in his career and fifth appearance in the 2009 Pro Bowl. Barber intercepted Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper twice for a touchdown in Week 12 (November 23), a 38-20 victory over the visiting Detroit Lions.

Barber made 77 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 passes shielded, and 2 forced fumbles in 16 games in 2009 (all starts). Barber did not intercept a pass for the first time since his 1997 rookie season, but not the entire season. Barber had some key plays on special teams during Week 4 (October 4) against the Washington Redskins, where Barber stopped an extra point kick by Shaun Suisham. Barber returned a punt blocked by Geno Hayes 31 yards for a tying touchdown in Week 9 over the Green Bay Packers. Prior to the 2010 Pro Bowl, Barber, Tony Dungy, Derrick Brooks, and Warren Sapp were all voted to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

Barber made 82 tackles, blocked 13 passes, and had three interceptions for 98 yards in 16 games. Barber tied Dick LeBeau for the most consecutive starts by an NFL cornerback in Week 6 (October 17), and appeared in his 200th game two weeks later. Barber defeated the San Francisco 49ers 21-0 on November 21, 2010, becoming the first NFL player with at least 25 sacks (26 total) and 40 interceptions.

Barber had 79 tackles, 9 passes blocked, 1 safety, and three interceptions returned for 12 yards in all 16 games as a right cornerback. Barber played Matt Forte in the end zone on October 23 (Week 7), in an NFL International Series game against the Chicago Bears held in London, England.

Barber officially switched to become a free safety on May 15, 2012. Barber played in all 16 games for the 13th straight season, with 91 tackles, 13 interceptions blocked, 4 interceptions returned for 160 yards, and a forced fumble. Barber intercepted Brady Quinn's pass for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on Week 6 (October 14) on Week 6 (October 14), as well as blocking a punt.

Barber was the only member of the Super Bowl XXVII championship team that was still active with the club this season. Barber said in December: "I'm not ready to make a decision on it" in response to media rumors of retirement. When the time comes, I'm pretty positive it will play itself out."

Barber resigned on May 8, 2013. He was the highest scoring leader in defensive touchdowns at 14 years old at the time of his retirement.

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