Jamael Orondé "Rondé" Barber is a former American football cornerback and former sports broadcaster. Barber spent his entire 16-year professional career playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He is the identical twin brother of Tiki Barber, a former running back for the New York Giants. Barber grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and played college football for the University of Virginia.

In the 1997 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Ronde Barber in the third round as the 66th overall pick. Over the course of his career, Barber was selected to five Pro Bowls, accumulated three first team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, and was selected to the National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team. Additionally, he led all NFL players in interceptions in 2001, is the Buccaneers all-time interceptions leader, and is one of the two members of the 40/20 club (40+ interceptions, 20+ quarterback sacks) alongside Charles Woodson. After the 2002 season, Barber won Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders. He also holds the record for most consecutive starts by a defensive back. Barber was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Barber received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Virginia, where he played for the Virginia Cavaliers football team. He redshirted the 1993 season and played for the Cavaliers from the 1994 to 1996 seasons as a defensive back. He was also a kick returner in 1994 and 1996; in 1994, Barber returned 10 kickoffs for 171 yards, and in 1996, he returned 3 for 36 yards. As a defensive back, Barber made 15 interceptions returned for 112 yards in his career with Virginia: 8 for 56 yards in 1994, 4 for 18 yards in 1995, and 3 for 38 yards in 1996. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) recognized Barber as Freshman of the Year after the 1994 season, and Barber earned first-team All-ACC honors in all his three seasons with Virginia. Barber was part of the Virginia teams that won the 1994 Independence Bowl and December 1995 Peach Bowl. After his junior season in 1996, Barber declared for the 1997 NFL Draft. Barber graduated from Virginia in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in commerce with an emphasis in marketing.

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On January 3, 1997, Barber announced his decision to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 1997 NFL Draft. He became only the third player from the University of Virginia to enter the NFL draft with eligibility remaining.

The Barber twin boys were born five weeks premature. Barber was born seven minutes before his identical twin brother Tiki Barber. He was named Jamael Oronde which means "first born son". Tiki was a running back who played for the New York Giants.

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Barber is the son of Geraldine and James Barber. James "J.B." Barber was a star running back at Virginia Tech and later played in the World Football League. His roommate in college was Bruce Arians. His parents divorced when Barber was very young, and his father never provided financial support and rarely saw his sons when they were growing up. His mother Geraldine worked two, sometimes three jobs to support her three sons. He and Tiki have an older brother, Tarik Barber.

 

Barber graduated from Cave Spring High School of Roanoke, Virginia in 1993, and was a standout in football, wrestling, and track. In football, Barber was a three-time All-District selection. In track, Barber won the national title in the 55-meter hurdles as a senior in 1993, with a career-best time of 7.18 seconds. He was timed at 14.05 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. He also won four Group AAA hurdles titles in indoor and outdoor track.

 

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