Ronde Barber’s Hall Of Fame Moment Has Arrived

Back in early February, it was only fitting that Bucs Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks notified Ronde Barber, the team’s all-time interceptor and the best defensive back in franchise history, that Barber would be joining him in the NFL’s gold jacket club. From one Bucs legend to another, Barber would become the fifth long-time member of the Bucs to become a Hall of Famer, joining Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Tony Dungy and Lee Roy Selmon.

Brooks is the most decorated Buccaneer in franchise history, winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, in addition to being a nine-time All-Pro, an 11-time Pro Bowler and a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Barber’s accolades are different, but just as impressive.

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 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.

Ronde Barber’s Hall Of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony Is Saturday, August 5

Ronde Barber will be presented into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio by his twin brother Tiki, a former Giants running back, on Saturday, August 5. The Bucs will be well represented in Canton, with fellow Hall of Famers and Barber’s former teammates Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch, and former Bucs head coach and Hall of Famer Tony Dungy. Bucs general manager Jason Licht and assistant general manager Mike Greenberg will also be in attendance, along with the Glazer family.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will be televised live by ESPN and NFL Network on Saturday beginning at noon.

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds will be reporting on Barber’s enshrinement live from Canton, Ohio. Stay tuned to PewterReport.com and @PewterReport on Twitter.

While Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris might attend Barber’s enshrinement, as both coached him with the Bucs, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles won’t be in attendance.

Former Bucs CB Ronde Barber – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I talked to Ronde, I’m not going to be able to make it,” Bowles said. “I’ll be at practice here, but I wish him my best and I’ll be sitting there rooting for him.”

Since retiring after the 2013 season, Barber has worked for the Bucs doing their preseason TV broadcasts on WFLA News Channel 8, as well as film analysis for Buccaneers.com. Barber, Brooks and Mike Alstott also took part in the Bucs’ recent creamsicle uniform reveal video that featured Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Lavonte David, the only current player who has played with Barber.

Evans, who is perhaps the next Bucs Hall of Famer, paid tribute to Barber during his press conference on Tuesday.

“I’m going to watch for Ronde,” Evans said. “I’m going to watch this one for Ronde. Great guy. I’ve gotten to know him over the past 10 years. So deserving of this award. So shout out to Ronde. I’ll be watching.”

Watch Ronde Barber On The Pewter Report Podcast

Bucs legend Ronde Barber joined Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera to discuss his Hall of Fame career as well as the current 2023 Bucs on a recent episode of the Pewter Report Podcast.

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