Ronde Barber To Be Inducted Into The Ring Of Honor

After a stellar 16-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ronde Barber will now be the next member of the Ring of Honor.

The former cornerback-turned-safety will be the 13th member after Tony Dungy was selected in 2018. Barber will join the likes of Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks -and many, many others.

This was one of the easier decisions to make. Not only is Barber responsible for delivering the most exhilarating moment in franchise history, but he was the first player in NFL history to record more than 40 interceptions and 20 sacks over the course of a career. Charles Woodson has since joined the club, but it’s a feat no other player has accomplished since.

When you add five Pro Bowls, five All-Pro selections, and a roster spot on the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team, it becomes clear as to why Barber has been selected for this honor.

Not only was he a force on the field, but he was also a force in the locker room. He was always a class act and could be counted upon when the team needed him most.

This was backed up by nine years as a defensive captain and after he was named the Buccaneers Man of the Year in 2006. He also won the Ed Block Courage Award in 2011.

He was always on the field as well, setting the NFL record for the most consecutive starts (215) by a defensive back. He also scored a total of 13 non-offensive touchdowns over his career, which ties him with Aeneas Williams for second all-time.

Barber was a third-round draft pick out of Virginina in 1997. He recorded 1,428 tackles, 28.0 sacks, 47 interceptions, eight interception return touchdowns, 243 passes defensed, 15 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, four fumble return touchdowns, one blocked punt return touchdown, and one punt return touchdown during his career with the Bucs.

The induction ceremony will be held during the Bucs’ Sept. 22 home game against the New York Giants.

The Bucs released a statement on Tuesday after the announcement was made:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that former cornerback Rondé Barber will become the 13^th individual to be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor. The ceremony will take place at halftime of the Buccaneers’ home game against the New York Giants on Sunday, September 22. Barber will be part of the NFL on Fox broadcast team that will be televising the game.

A formal press conference with additional details will be conducted at AdventHealth Training Center during training camp.

Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer said: “Rondé Barber personified greatness on and off the field during his 16 seasons as a Buccaneer and we look forward to honoring his remarkable career this upcoming season. His achievements are as impressive as they are long, but Rondé ’s most defining qualities were his ultra-competitive nature, his passion for this game, and his love of the Tampa Bay community.”

Barber entered the National Football League as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ third-round selection (66th overall) in the 1997 NFL Draft, and, over the course of his career, developed into one of the most decorated players in franchise history. He played in 241 games with 232 starts for Tampa Bay – both club records – while also recording a streak of 215 consecutive starts, tied for sixth-longest in NFL history. His 200 consecutive starts at cornerback is the most for that position in league history, and his 240 consecutive games played ranks second among defensive players since 1970.

During his career, Barber racked up 1,428 tackles – second in franchise history, behind only linebacker Derrick Brooks – 28.0 sacks, 47 interceptions, eight interception return touchdowns, 243 passes defensed, 15 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, and six additional touchdowns on fumble returns and blocked/deflected punts. In 2001, Barber led the NFL in interceptions, picking off 10 passes, a Buccaneers single-season record.

Barber also played in 10 playoff games with nine starts, recording 50 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one interception return touchdown, 11 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He made one of the most memorable plays in Buccaneers history with his 92-yard interception returned for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2002 NFC Championship Game, sending the Buccaneers to the team’s first-ever Super Bowl appearance and an eventual victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Barber is the only player in the history of the NFL to have 25 or more sacks and 40 or more interceptions. His 28.0 sacks are second-most all-time among defensive backs, and the most all-time by a cornerback. He tops the Buccaneers’ record book with his nine interceptions returned for touchdowns (including postseason), and his 14 total regular-season return touchdowns put him fourth in NFL history.

Barber’s on-the-field numbers earned him a myriad of accolades throughout the years, including five Pro Bowl selections, five AP All-Pro team appointments, and nine Player of the Week awards. Barber was also named to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team.

Known for his leadership as much as his play, Barber was selected as a team captain for nine consecutive seasons (2004-12), named Buccaneers Man of the Year in 2006 and voted the team’s Ed Block Courage Award winner in 2011.