Tiki Barber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tiki Barber

Barber at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007
No. 21
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1975-04-07) April 7, 1975 (age 50) Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Cave Spring (Roanoke)
College:	Virginia (1993–1996)
NFL Draft:	1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36
Career history
New York Giants (1997)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (2005) 3× Pro Bowl (2004–2006) New York Giants Ring of Honor ACC Player of the Year (1996) ACC Offensive Player of the Year (1996) 2× First-team All-ACC (1995, 1996) Dudley Award (1996) Virginia Cavaliers Jersey No. 21 retired
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 10,449 Rushing average: 4.7 Rushing touchdowns: 55 Receptions: 586 Receiving yards: 5,183 Receiving touchdowns: 12
Player stats at PFR

Atiim Kiambu "Tiki" Barber Sr. (born April 7, 1975) is a former American football running back. He played his entire 10-year career for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). Before turning pro, he played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers.

The Giants selected Barber in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft. When he retired after the 2006 season, he was the Giants' all-time leader in rushing and receptions. He is one of the few players in NFL history with over 5,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards. In 2011, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

After his football career, Barber became a well-known media personality. He worked as a correspondent for NBC's The Today Show and as an analyst for Football Night in America. He has also written several books.

Tiki has an identical twin brother, Ronde Barber, who was a famous cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is in the NFL Hall of Fame.

College Career

Barber went to the University of Virginia on an academic scholarship. While he focused on his studies, he also became a star athlete. He broke the university's long jump record on his first try and helped make the football team famous again.

In his third year, Barber rushed for nearly 1,400 yards. The next year, he rushed for over 1,300 yards and was named the ACC Player of the Year. He finished his college career with 3,389 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns.

Professional Career

At first, Barber was seen as a backup running back. However, he soon became a star player and the all-time leading rusher for the New York Giants. He was selected for three Pro Bowls and was known for gaining a huge number of yards.

Early Years (1997–1999)

The New York Giants picked Barber in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft. He became a starter after the team's main running back, Rodney Hampton, retired. His first season was average, and he missed some games due to an injury. After a tough year in 1998, he had a great season in 1999, gaining 1,639 all-purpose yards.

Becoming a Star (2000–2004)

In 2000, Barber helped the Giants reach Super Bowl XXXV, but they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Because he was such a key player, the Giants gave him a new six-year contract.

Over the next few years, Barber became a vital part of the Giants' offense. In 2002, he had an amazing game against the Philadelphia Eagles, rushing for 203 yards. In 2004, he scored a career-high 15 touchdowns. In the last game of that season, he broke the Giants' all-time rushing record.

Peak Performance (2005–2006)

The 2005 season was one of the best of Barber's career. He and quarterback Eli Manning led the Giants to an 11-5 record and an NFC East title. On December 17, 2005, Barber set a new team record by rushing for 220 yards in a single game. He finished the season with 1,860 rushing yards and 2,390 all-purpose yards, which was the second-highest total in NFL history at the time.

In his final season in 2006, Barber continued to play at a high level. In the last game of the regular season, he rushed for 234 yards and scored four touchdowns against Washington, securing a playoff spot for the Giants. This performance broke his own team record for rushing yards in a single game.

Retirement from the NFL

In October 2006, Barber announced he would retire after the season. He said the physical demands of football were too much for his body. He played his last official game in the 2007 Pro Bowl.

Barber retired without winning a Super Bowl. He said, "I used to think my career was defined by not winning a Super Bowl. But I think looking back on my career, they'll see someone who was a competitor, someone who always played hard and never gave up."

The very next season, the Giants won Super Bowl XLII. Barber was there covering the event for TV.

Attempted Comeback

In March 2011, Barber filed paperwork to come out of retirement. The Giants released him from his contract, making him free to sign with any team. He worked out with the Miami Dolphins, but no team ended up signing him.

Player Profile

Running Style

Barber was known for his quick feet, great vision on the field, and ability to make sharp cuts. He was also a skilled receiver, catching many passes out of the backfield.

Early in his career, Barber had a problem with fumbling the ball. When Coach Tom Coughlin arrived, he taught Barber a new way to hold the ball, similar to how it's held in rugby football. This change helped him fumble much less. Barber also started strength training, which made him stronger and better at breaking tackles.

Disagreements with Teammates and Coaches

In 2002, Barber publicly criticized teammate Michael Strahan during contract talks, which caused some tension on the team. Players usually don't talk about other players' contracts, and some teammates felt Barber was out of line.

Barber also had disagreements with Coach Coughlin's tough coaching style. Even though his performance improved under Coughlin, Barber sometimes questioned the coach's decisions in public. He later said that Coughlin's demanding practices were one of the reasons he decided to retire.

Post-Football Career

Broadcasting

After retiring from the NFL, Barber started a career in television. He became a correspondent for NBC's Today show and an analyst for Football Night in America. He covered sports, news, and entertainment events.

Barber also hosted radio shows and has appeared as a guest on many TV programs, including Iron Chef America and Project Runway. In 2022, he became a radio co-host for WFAN in New York City.

Theater

In 2019, Barber made his Broadway debut. He played the character Don in the musical Kinky Boots for a limited time.

Personal Life

Tiki and his identical twin brother, Ronde, were born seven minutes apart. His name, Atiim Kiambu, means "fiery-tempered king" because he was crying loudly after birth. Their father, James Barber, was also a football player but was not a part of their lives growing up. Their mother, Geraldine, worked multiple jobs to support her sons.

Barber married his college sweetheart, Virginia Cha, in 1999. They have two sons and twin daughters. The couple separated in 2010 and later divorced.

In 2012, Barber married Traci Lynn Johnson. They have two daughters together.

Books

Barber has written several books. In 2007, he published his autobiography, Tiki: My Life and the Game Beyond. He also wrote a workout book called Tiki Barber's Pure Hard Workout.

With his brother Ronde, he has written a series of children's books:

• By My Brother's Side (2004)
• Game Day (2005)
• Teammates (2006)
• Kickoff! (2007)
• Go Long! (2008)
• Wild Card (2009)
• Red Zone (2010)
• Goal Line (2011)
• End Zone (2012)

See also

• History of the New York Giants (1994–present)
• List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders