Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Rondé Barber
Enshrinement
Published on : 7/26/2023
By Evan Rogers
Pro Football Hall of Fame
(First in a series of features on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023.)
RONDÉ BARBER and his twin brother, Tiki, always have seemed inseparable.
The identical twins were born nearly five weeks premature and suffered from seizures and lung ailments. Doctors advised the boy’s mother, Geraldine Barber, that her sons avoid contact sports.
When the twins were 3 years old, their parents divorced, and the boy’s father — a former football star at Virginia Tech — exited the picture. Geraldine worked three jobs and upward of 12 hours a day to provide for her sons.
Growing up, Rondé and Tiki held similar interests, played football and shared the same closet.
“We always dressed alike; that’s always cute, you know, when twins do that,” Tiki said. “Maybe a color change here and there, but always the same stuff.”
“Mostly we had the same clothes, and we didn’t have a big selection,” Rondé added.
By the time Rondé enrolled at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Va., he and Tiki had split ways in football, with Rondé manning the back end at safety, while Tiki played running back. As a junior, Rondé collected 11 interceptions and earned All-Group AAA team honors. He was also selected as Co-Timesland Athlete of the Year the same season.
After redshirting his first year in college, Rondé burst onto the scene at the University of Virginia. During his first full season, he recorded a conference-leading eight interceptions and was selected ACC Rookie of the Year.
Despite winning the esteemed award, Rondé didn’t think playing in the NFL was a possibility.
“I didn’t realize the NFL was even an option for me until probably after my redshirt sophomore year,” Rondé said. “Coach (Ken) Mack sat Tiki and I down and said, ‘If you want to get there (the NFL), start now. It’s got to be tunnel vision.’”
The star defensive back went on to close out his college career with 15 interceptions and was selected first-team All-ACC three times. In the 1997 NFL Draft, Rondé was selected in the third round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After appearing in only one game his rookie season, Rondé made his first career start in his second year. The young cornerback took full advantage of his extended playing time, starting nine games that season and recording three sacks and a pair of interceptions.
Early on, Rondé left a strong impression on his professional counterparts through his work during and outside of game day.
“(Rondé is) incredibly competitive, and he’s a tremendous worker,” Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said during Rondé’s career. “After practice, he comes off the field and goes back to the video room and waits for the tape to be done. He watches the tape of practice before he even showers. He wants to see if he’s made any mistakes. He’s a perfectionist that way.”
By his fifth season, Rondé established himself as one of the top nickelbacks in the league. A position usually reserved for a team’s weakest coverage back, Rondé transformed the nickelback with his game-changing plays.
In his first Pro Bowl season, Rondé tallied 10 interceptions to go along with 72 total tackles and one sack. The year prior, he posted a staggering 5.5 sacks along with two interceptions, further showcasing that the nickelback could be a featured position of an NFL defense.
“He has the ability to flop with safeties and flop with linebackers,” defensive backs coach Raheem Morris said. “He comes to work with a sense of urgency with what we’re putting in, finding out what he can do this week; how (he can) affect the game.”
At the end of his 16-year career in Tampa Bay, Rondé recorded 47 interceptions and 28 sacks. He stands as the only player in NFL history to reach the 45/25 mark across the two statistical categories. Despite measuring in at under 6 feet tall and weighing 184 pounds, Rondé also finished second all time in sacks among defensive backs and helped the Buccaneers win their first Super Bowl in 2003.
Most importantly, Rondé’s and Tiki’s bond remained as strong throughout their professional careers, even with Tiki playing more than 1,000 miles away for the New York Giants. Rondé selected Tiki to serve as his Hall of Fame presenter.
“You don’t start playing in the NFL thinking you’re going to get in the Hall of Fame,” Rondé said. “But when you get that call to the Hall, it’s unlike any feeling you can possibly imagine.”
Evan Rogers is a student at the University of North Carolina and is an intern this summer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
(First in a series of features on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023.)
RONDÉ BARBER and his twin brother, Tiki, always have seemed inseparable.
The identical twins were born nearly five weeks premature and suffered from seizures and lung ailments. Doctors advised the boy’s mother, Geraldine Barber, that her sons avoid contact sports.
When the twins were 3 years old, their parents divorced, and the boy’s father — a former football star at Virginia Tech — exited the picture. Geraldine worked three jobs and upward of 12 hours a day to provide for her sons.
Growing up, Rondé and Tiki held similar interests, played football and shared the same closet.
“We always dressed alike; that’s always cute, you know, when twins do that,” Tiki said. “Maybe a color change here and there, but always the same stuff.”
“Mostly we had the same clothes, and we didn’t have a big selection,” Rondé added.
By the time Rondé enrolled at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Va., he and Tiki had split ways in football, with Rondé manning the back end at safety, while Tiki played running back. As a junior, Rondé collected 11 interceptions and earned All-Group AAA team honors. He was also selected as Co-Timesland Athlete of the Year the same season.
After redshirting his first year in college, Rondé burst onto the scene at the University of Virginia. During his first full season, he recorded a conference-leading eight interceptions and was selected ACC Rookie of the Year.
Despite winning the esteemed award, Rondé didn’t think playing in the NFL was a possibility.
“I didn’t realize the NFL was even an option for me until probably after my redshirt sophomore year,” Rondé said. “Coach (Ken) Mack sat Tiki and I down and said, ‘If you want to get there (the NFL), start now. It’s got to be tunnel vision.’”
The star defensive back went on to close out his college career with 15 interceptions and was selected first-team All-ACC three times. In the 1997 NFL Draft, Rondé was selected in the third round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After appearing in only one game his rookie season, Rondé made his first career start in his second year. The young cornerback took full advantage of his extended playing time, starting nine games that season and recording three sacks and a pair of interceptions.
Early on, Rondé left a strong impression on his professional counterparts through his work during and outside of game day.
“(Rondé is) incredibly competitive, and he’s a tremendous worker,” Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said during Rondé’s career. “After practice, he comes off the field and goes back to the video room and waits for the tape to be done. He watches the tape of practice before he even showers. He wants to see if he’s made any mistakes. He’s a perfectionist that way.”
By his fifth season, Rondé established himself as one of the top nickelbacks in the league. A position usually reserved for a team’s weakest coverage back, Rondé transformed the nickelback with his game-changing plays.
In his first Pro Bowl season, Rondé tallied 10 interceptions to go along with 72 total tackles and one sack. The year prior, he posted a staggering 5.5 sacks along with two interceptions, further showcasing that the nickelback could be a featured position of an NFL defense.
“He has the ability to flop with safeties and flop with linebackers,” defensive backs coach Raheem Morris said. “He comes to work with a sense of urgency with what we’re putting in, finding out what he can do this week; how (he can) affect the game.”
At the end of his 16-year career in Tampa Bay, Rondé recorded 47 interceptions and 28 sacks. He stands as the only player in NFL history to reach the 45/25 mark across the two statistical categories. Despite measuring in at under 6 feet tall and weighing 184 pounds, Rondé also finished second all time in sacks among defensive backs and helped the Buccaneers win their first Super Bowl in 2003.
Most importantly, Rondé’s and Tiki’s bond remained as strong throughout their professional careers, even with Tiki playing more than 1,000 miles away for the New York Giants. Rondé selected Tiki to serve as his Hall of Fame presenter.
“You don’t start playing in the NFL thinking you’re going to get in the Hall of Fame,” Rondé said. “But when you get that call to the Hall, it’s unlike any feeling you can possibly imagine.”
Evan Rogers is a student at the University of North Carolina and is an intern this summer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
More of this series
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Rondé Barber
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Don Coryell
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Chuck Howley
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Joe Klecko
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Darrelle Revis
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Ken Riley
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Joe Thomas
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Zach Thomas
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: DeMarcus Ware
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