Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ronde Barber will announce his retirement on Thursday, the team announced. Barber, who spent his entire 16-year career with the Buccaneers, was a five-time Pro Bowler and a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
"I've had a better run than I ever could've dreamed of having," Barber told FoxSports.com.
"Ronde is synonymous with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, establishing himself as one of our franchise's iconic players over a 16-year, Hall of Fame-worthy career," said Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer. "When anyone thinks of Ronde, they think of a true professional and leader. He approached every day the same, giving everything he had to make himself and his teammates the best they could be. We will miss him."
His twin brother, former New York Giants and now-retired NFL running back Tiki Barber, tweeted his congratulations, writing: "Congrats & happy for my twin, Ronde, who's hanging up the cleats!"
The 38-year-old Barber moved to free safety last season after playing his entire career at cornerback. But, with Tampa Bay's pursuit and signing of Dashon Goldson in free agency, Barber was expected to lose his starting job for the first time since 1999.
Barber finishes his career with 47 interceptions, 205 passes defensed, 1,234 tackles, 28 sacks and 16 forced fumbles in 241 career games. He is the Buccaneers franchise leader in interceptions and defensive touchdown returns (eight).
Barber's signature moment came during the 2003 NFC Championship game when his 92-yard interception clinched the Bucs' 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay went on to beat the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Other notable achievements made by Barber over the course of his 16-year career include three First-Team All-Pro nominations (2001, 2004, 2005), two Second-team All-Pro nominations (2002, 2006), an Ed Block Courage Award in 2011, and the NFL record for most consecutive starts by an NFL cornerback. Barber is a member of both the 40/20 and 20/20 clubs and was the NFL interception leader in 2001, as well as the NFL interception touchdown leader in 2006.
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