Ronde Barber

Ronde Barber

No. 20     Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: April 7, 1975 (1975-04-07)
Place of birth: Roanoke, Virginia
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	Weight: 184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
College: Virginia
NFL Draft: 1997 / Round: 3 / Pick: 66
Debuted in 1997 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Career history
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997–present)
Career highlights and awards
5× Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008) 3× First-Team All-Pro selection (2001, 2004, 2005) 2× Second-Team All-Pro selection (2002, 2006) Super Bowl champion (XXXVII) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team 20/20 Club Most consecutive starts by a NFL cornerback Most quarterback sacks by a NFL cornerback Buccaneers Interceptions (All-Time) Led the NFL in interceptions in 2001 Led the NFL in interception touchdowns in 2006
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011
Tackles	1,138
Sacks	27.0
Interceptions	43
Stats at NFL.com

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.

Early years

Barber attended Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, 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.

Professional career

Drafted in the third round pick of the 1997 NFL Draft 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, Jeremiah Trotter, and Roy Williams tackle LaDainian Tomlinson during the 2006 Pro Bowl.

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 23, he recorded his first career safety. On November 6, 2011 he collected his 42nd career interception off Drew Brees. On December 11, 2011, Barber collected his 43rd career interception off Blaine Gabbert, and he would have became the oldest player to intercept 3 passes in the same season if it were not for Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders, and Junior Seau.

Personal life

Barber lives in Tampa with wife Claudia and daughters Yammile Rose and Justyce Rosina. He is the identical twin of Tiki Barber.

External links

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio