When it comes to defensive backs we tend to fall in love with the physical specimens. We become dazzled by the fast runners, the high jumpers and the well put together. In time though, we are forced to respect those who play the game the way it should be played. Today, I put you up on one who did just that, Ronde Barber.
Ronde was the first born pair of Barber twins to play in the NFL. His brother Tiki was perhaps slightly more famous as a running back playing in the big city for the New York Giants. However, Ronde was the more steady one of the two.
Coming out of high school, Barber was a three sport star at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Virginia. Apart from doing his thing on the gridiron, Barber was also a standout wrestler and a national champion hurdler. Barber would parlay all that athleticism into a football scholarship to the University of Virginia with brother Tiki.
After redshirting his first season at UVA, which was not uncommon, Barber became a starter in his redshirt freshman season. He would have an immediate impact intercepting eight passes and becoming a key part of a Cavaliers squad that went 9-3 and won the Independence Bowl. He would go on to start 23 more games in his UVA career and total 15 interceptions. Though he was not big in stature (5’9″ 180 lbs.) he had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. At the completion of his redshirt junior year, Barber would forgo his last season and enter the 1997 NFL draft.
Despite his on field production in college, Barber’s draft pick status was not highly regarded due to his pedestrian combine numbers. Barber measured in at 5’9 3/8″ 185 lbs., ran a 4.68 forty, had a 9’10” broad jump and 34 inch vertical. This was a far cry from the numbers pertaining to that year’s top cornerback taken Shawn Springs (6’0″ 197 lbs and 4.3 forty). General managers wondered if Barber would be able to survive with those numbers in the highly athletic world of the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would draft Barber in the 3rd round (66th overall), one round later than his brother Tiki who went in the 2nd to New York. Ten cornerbacks would be drafted ahead of Barber in 1997. None of them would play longer than Barber and only one (Sam Madison) could claim to have a career as good as his.
After sitting and watching for his rookie season, Barber would make nine starts in his second year with the Bucs. He would show is turnover capabilities in that small sample by intercepting two passes and forcing another pair of fumbles. In year three he became a full time starter and was solid at the cornerback / nickel spot nabbing two interceptions per year for the next two seasons. In year five it all clicked for Barber. In his finest season as a pro, he pulled down 10 interceptions running one back for a touchdown. He defended 24 passes, forced one fumble and recovered two more. He would be named to both the Pro Bowl and All Pro teams that season.
One year after that remarkable season, Barber would be a part of a tremendous defensive unit that would lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first and only Super Bowl title. Barber’s most memorable play in that season was sealing the win in the NFC Championship game vs the Eagles by taking a Donovan McNabb pass 92 yards the other way for a pick six in the 4th quarter.
Barber would go on to play for another 10 years for the Bucs after that historic season. He would total 16 years as a pro and be named to three All Pro teams. He was selected for the Pro Bowl five times and was a member of the NFL’s all Decade Team (2000’s). He would total 47 interceptions in his career scoring on 8 of them. He would accumulate 28 sacks, force 15 fumbles and recover 12 more scoring on four of them.
Barber made a name for himself over the years as being a player who had a high football IQ and was very consistent. Coaches could always count on him to be where he was supposed to be and know where others were supposed to be too. He had excellent on field communication skills and over the years was a team leader who led by example.
I don’t know how many 5’9″ 4.6 forty cornerbacks have ever made it in the NFL but I am pretty sure none of them had a career quite like Ronde Barber’s.
Chad Wilson is the owner of All Eyes DB Camp and author of "101 DB Tips". He played college football at the University of Miami and briefly in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Over his 15 year high school football coaching career, he tutored over a dozen Division I defensive backs and as a trainer has worked with NFL All Pros, first round draft picks, college football All Americans and Top 10 ranked high school football prospects.
