Rondé Barber Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio – Former Virginia standout defensive back Rondé Barber was formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in a ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Ronde’s twin brother, Tiki, was his presenter during the event.

“After today there will be 23 corners in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and I’m not like any one of them, because I couldn’t be,” Barber said during his induction speech. “I’m here because I refused to just be a guy. Ordinary was not an option. And I learned something along the way in NFL. It’s a special place, man. No matter where you come from, no matter where your journey started, no one gets to define you. But this league rewards you, if you dare to be uncommon, and choose to be a little bit extraordinary. This is one of the most humbling moments in my life.”

Barber becomes the fifth individual from Virginia to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He joins former UVA standouts Bill Dudley and Henry Jordan, former coach Earle “Greasy” Neale along with Ralph Wilson, Jr. (owner).

“I want to thank the fans,” Barber said. “I am fortunate to have played in one of the best sports towns in this country. I’ve always felt loved and embraced in Tampa and back in Virginia. So I feel this recognition for every one of you watching at home that are here today.”

Also inducted as part of the 2023 class were Darrelle Revis, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware, Don Coryell (coach), Chuck Howley (senior), Joe Klecko (senior) and Ken Riley (senior).

Friday night, Barber and the rest of the Class of 2023 were presented their gold jackets, signifying them as hall of famers, in a ceremony at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. Barber was presented his jacket by John Lynch and Mike Tomlin. Lynch, a hall of famer, was one of Barber’s Tampa Bay teammates. Tomlin, the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was once Barber’s position coach at Tampa Bay.

No Bucs player has played in more games (241) or more seasons (16) than Barber, and his 1,432 career tackles are second in franchise history behind Derrick Brooks. Barber also has the distinction of having the most important play in Bucs history – his 92-yard pick-six in the 2002 NFC Championship Game at Philadelphia that propelled the Bucs to Super Bowl XXXVII.

Barber was the epitome of toughness, starting every game during his final 13 seasons (2000-12), and his 232 career starts are the third-most by an NFL defensive back. His 215 consecutive starts are the seventh-longest in NFL history.

Barber, a five-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, also won nine NFC Defensive Player of the Week Awards, which is rare territory. And he is the only NFL player with at least 40 interceptions (47) and 25 sacks (28). Barber’s 14 non-offensive touchdowns rank fourth-most in NFL history.

Barber, from Roanoke, Va., played at Virginia from 1994 to 1996 after redshirting the 1993 season. He had 15 career interceptions, including eight in 1994 when he was named the ACC Rookie of the Year after leading the league in that statistic. He was a first-team All-ACC selection each of his three seasons as a Cavalier and received second- or third-team All-America honors each of his years with UVA. While he declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season, Barber completed his degree in commerce in 1997.