The 2023 NFL season is less than two months away. The start of the preseason is rapidly approaching, which means it’s time for some Pro Football Hall of Fame discussion. Here’s a look at one of the nine men who make up the Class of 2023, starting with an opportunistic defensive back.
Cornerback/safety Ronde Barber was a third-round draft choice of the Buccaneers in 1997. He played in only one regular-season game as a rookie, totaling four solo tackles in a Week 15 win over the visiting Cardinals. He was inactive for the team’s wild card clash with the Lions but did make an appearance in the club’s divisional round meeting at Green Bay. Barber finished with one assist in the club’s 21-7 setback.
Mr. Consistency
Things would change dramatically a year later. The former University of Virginia product didn’t miss a game in his last 15 seasons, and he started every contest for the Bucs in each of his final 13 campaigns.
Barber was literally all over the field and knew what to do with the ball when he got his hands on it. He is the franchise’s all-time interception leader (47) and he returned eight of those thefts for scores. There were a dozen fumble recoveries, four returned for touchdowns. Add in 15 forced fumbles and 28.0 sacks and that’s quite the resume. He also made his presence felt on special teams when it came to getting into the end zone.
Championship Campaign
The 16-year pro came up huge in the club’s 2002 championship postseason, which concluded with a convincing 48-21 win over the then-Oakland Raiders. In three games vs. the 49ers, Eagles and Buccaneers, he finished with 11 stops, one sack, two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions. One of those picks was returned 92 yards for a score in the team’s 27-10 win at Philadelphia in the conference title game.
Barber becomes the fourth member of that superb defensive unit to be enshrined in Canton, joining defensive tackle Warren Sapp, outside linebacker Derrick Brooks and safety John Lynch.
To think the opportunistic defender barely saw the field as a rookie. Barber was a five-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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