Tiki Barber facts for kids
Barber at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007
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| No. 21 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | April 7, 1975 Roanoke, Virginia, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Atiim Kiambu "Tiki" Barber Sr. (born April 7, 1975) is a former American professional football player. He was a running back for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL) for his entire 10-year career.
Tiki played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers. The Giants picked him in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft. When he retired after the 2006 NFL season, he was the Giants' all-time leader in rushing yards and receptions. He is one of only four players in NFL history with over 5,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards. In 2011, Tiki Barber was honored by being inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
After his football career, Barber became a well-known media personality. He joined NBC's The Today Show as a correspondent in 2007. He also worked on Football Night in America and Sunday Night Football. Tiki Barber has also written several books.
He is the identical twin brother of Ronde Barber, who was a Hall of Fame cornerback and safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Contents
College Football Journey
Tiki Barber went to the University of Virginia on an academic scholarship. He studied commerce and also became a great college athlete. On his very first try, he broke the university's long jump record. He also helped make the University of Virginia's football team famous again.
In his junior year, Barber rushed for almost 1,400 yards. This helped the Cavaliers win a share of the ACC title. During his senior year, he rushed for over 1,300 yards. He was named the ACC Player of the Year.
Tiki finished his college career with 3,389 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. He also had 602 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Tiki Barber's NFL Career
Tiki Barber became a star running back for the New York Giants. He was originally seen as a player who would only play on third downs. However, he became the Giants' all-time leader in rushing yards. In 2005, he gained the most yards from the line of scrimmage in the entire NFL. His fellow players voted him to three Pro Bowls. From 2003 to 2006, Tiki gained more yards from scrimmage than any other NFL running back.
Starting Strong: 1997–1999 Seasons
The New York Giants drafted Tiki Barber in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was meant to be a third-down running back at first. But after Rodney Hampton retired, Barber became the starting player. In his first year, he rushed for 511 yards and three touchdowns. He missed four games due to a knee injury but returned to play.
In 1998, he faced a tough year with injuries and was replaced as a starter. However, he bounced back in 1999. That year, he gained 1,639 total yards, showing off his skills in returning punts and catching passes.
Becoming a Playmaker: 2000–2004 Seasons
In 2001, Barber and the Giants played in Super Bowl XXXV. They represented the NFC but lost the game to the Baltimore Ravens. After the 2000 season, Tiki was a key player and signed a six-year contract with the Giants. He said he was "the happiest man in New York."
Over the next four years, Barber became a vital part of the Giants' offense. In the last game of 2002, he rushed for 203 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. This helped the Giants make it to the playoffs. However, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers. He finished that season with 1,984 yards from scrimmage.
The 2003 NFL season was a tough one for the Giants, as they finished with a 4–12 record.
During the 2004 NFL season, Barber scored a career-high 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,518 yards and had 578 receiving yards. This gave him 2,096 total yards from scrimmage. On January 2, 2005, Tiki broke Rodney Hampton's Giants' all-time rushing record. He also broke Joe Morris's single-season rushing record in the same game. He broke the record on the final play, scoring a game-winning touchdown.
Record-Breaking Year: 2005 Season
The 2005 season was a great year for the Giants and for Tiki Barber's career. With Eli Manning and Barber leading the way, they finished 11-5. They won the NFC East title for the first time since 2000. On December 17, 2005, Barber broke the Giants' single-game rushing record. He rushed for 220 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. He would break this record again the next year.
He finished the 2005 regular season with 1,860 rushing yards. This was his career-high and second in the league. He also had 2,390 total yards from scrimmage. In the final game against the Oakland Raiders, he rushed for 203 yards. Barber's 95-yard touchdown run set a new Giants' team record.
His 960 yards from scrimmage in December 2005 was an NFL record at the time. The Giants lost to the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs.
Tiki's 2,390 total yards in 2005 was the second-highest in NFL history at that time. It was also the highest total for a running back aged 30 or older. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl for the second time. He was also voted an All-Pro player. Barber finished fourth in the voting for the 2005 NFL MVP award.
Final Season Highlights: 2006 Season
In his final season, 2006, Barber continued to play very well. He rushed for 1,662 yards and five touchdowns. This was a rare achievement for a running back in their last season. His total yardage was higher than any other running back in history in their final year.
In Week 17 against Washington, Tiki rushed for 234 yards and three touchdowns. This win helped the Giants get into the playoffs. In that game, Tiki set a new team record for rushing yards in a single game. His 234 rushing yards are the most ever by a player over 30 years old. He also holds the record for most 200-yard rushing games by a player over 30.
In his last game with the Giants, a playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Barber rushed for 137 yards. Eagles safety Brian Dawkins told him, "You're a warrior." As a Pro Bowler in his final season, Barber's last official game was the 2007 Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
Retiring from the NFL
In October 2006, Tiki Barber announced he would retire after the 2006 NFL season. He had always wanted to pursue a broadcasting career. People wondered why a player at the top of his game would retire. Barber explained that football was very tough on his body and he "simply couldn’t take it anymore." He reportedly turned down a $50 million contract from the Giants.
During his time with the Giants, the team never won a championship. This was a big goal for Barber. When he retired, he seemed okay with leaving without a Super Bowl ring. 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." He officially retired on February 12, 2007.
The very next season, the New York Giants went on to win Super Bowl XLII. They defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots in a huge upset. Barber was there to cover the event as a broadcaster.
Attempted NFL Comeback
On March 8, 2011, Barber filed paperwork to come out of retirement. The Giants still held his rights, but they planned to release him. This would allow him to sign with any team once a new agreement was reached between the NFL and the players' union.
On April 28, 2011, Barber said his comeback was "not about the money." However, some news reports suggested he was trying to return due to financial reasons. On July 28, 2011, the Giants officially removed him from the retired list. He then worked out with the Miami Dolphins. But on September 5, 2011, his agent confirmed that no NFL team was interested in signing him.
Giants Team Records
As of 2018, Tiki Barber held many Giants franchise records. Here are some of them:
- Most Rush Attempts (career): 2,217
- Most Rush Attempts (season): 357 (2005)
- Most Rush Yards (career): 10,449
- Most Rush Yards (season): 1,860 (2005)
- Most Rush Yards (game): 234 (December 30, 2006, vs. Washington)
- Most Yards from Scrimmage (career): 15,632
- Most Yards from Scrimmage (season): 2,390 (2005)
- Most All-Purpose Yards (career): 17,359
- Most All-Purpose Yards (season): 2,390 (2005)
- Longest Touchdown Run: 95 yards (December 31, 2005, vs. Oakland Raiders)
- Most 100+ yard rushing games (career): 40
- Most 1000+ rushing yard seasons (career): 6
Player Skills and Style
Starting in 2000, Tiki Barber was known for his amazing cutback running. He had quick feet and a great vision for finding open spaces. He was also a skilled receiver, catching many passes out of the backfield. From 2000 to 2006, he had over 450 receiving yards and over 50 catches each season.
Early in his career, Barber sometimes had trouble holding onto the ball. When coach Tom Coughlin arrived, he taught Barber a new way to hold the ball. After this change, his fumbles went down a lot.
In 2004, Barber started focusing on strength training. This made him stronger and helped him break more tackles. He also learned to be more patient during games, waiting for his offensive line to create openings. Barber also improved his physical toughness and blocking skills. He also benefited from a better offensive line and the Giants' new running game strategy.
Life After Football
Broadcasting Career
After retiring from the NFL, Tiki Barber started a new career in television. He quickly got a job with NBC. He worked on the Today show, covered sports for NBC Sports, and hosted entertainment events. He was introduced as a correspondent for Today and an analyst for Football Night in America on February 13, 2007.
Barber was unique among retired athletes because he wanted to cover news and political stories. He even said a lunch with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was a highlight of his year.
Even while playing in the NFL, Barber gained broadcasting experience. He co-hosted Fox & Friends on TV. On radio, he hosted Barber Shop with his brother Ronde. He also hosted a political and general interest radio show. Senator John McCain was his first interview. Barber began his broadcasting career on WFAN radio and WCBS local news in New York.
In August 2008, Barber helped broadcast the 2008 Summer Olympics on MSNBC. He was also a commentator for Yahoo! sports for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
In January 2022, Barber became a radio co-host for WFAN with Brandon Tierney. In June 2023, he moved to co-host the WFAN afternoon drive program with Evan Roberts.
Other TV Appearances
Barber is often a judge on the Food Network shows Iron Chef America and Chopped. He also appeared as a guest judge on Project Runway.
Barber and his family appeared on NBC's Celebrity Family Feud in 2008. He was also a guest on the NPR news quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! in November 2008.
In 2008, Barber played a drill sergeant in an episode of the TV series Knight Rider. He also appeared as himself in multiple episodes of The Electric Company in 2009. In 2014, Barber appeared as himself in an episode of Orange Is the New Black.
Barber co-hosted Season 2 of Ultimate Beastmaster with Chris Distefano and Season 3 with CM Punk. He and his wife Traci appear in Season 12 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Theater Work
Tiki Barber made his Broadway debut in the musical Kinky Boots. He played the role of Don from January 21, 2019, to March 3. Barber said he felt lucky to join another New York institution: Broadway.
Business Ventures
Barber is also involved in business and investments. He is a partner and investor in O Beverages LLC, which makes fruit-infused bottled water. He also opened a high-tech cycling gym in New York City.
Barber is a co-chairman and co-founder of Thuzio. This company helps athletes get booked for speaking events, coaching, and personal appearances.
Personal Life
Tiki Barber and his twin brother, Ronde, were born five weeks early. Tiki was born seven minutes after Ronde. His full name, Atiim Kiambu, means "fiery-tempered king." This is because he was screaming shortly after he was born. Ronde Barber played cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won Super Bowl XXXVII and was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2023.
Tiki's parents are Geraldine and James Barber. His father, James, was a star running back at Virginia Tech. Tiki's parents divorced when he was very young. His mother, Geraldine, worked hard at multiple jobs to support her three sons. Tiki also has an older brother named Tarik.
Tiki Barber married his college sweetheart, Virginia Cha Barber, on May 15, 1999. They had two sons, A.J. (born 2002) and Chason (born 2004). They also had twin daughters, Riley and Ella, born in 2010.
On April 5, 2010, Tiki and Virginia announced they were separating. Tiki later married Traci Lynn Johnson on July 20, 2012. They have two daughters, Brooklyn (born 2013) and Teagan (born 2016).
In 2014, Barber supported CC Sabathia's charity, the PitCCh In Foundation. He ran in the 2014 New York City Marathon and finished in 5 hours, 14 minutes, and 37 seconds.
Books Written by Tiki Barber
On September 18, 2007, Tiki Barber's autobiography, Tiki: My Life and the Game Beyond, was published. He co-wrote it with Gil Reavill. His second book, Tiki Barber's Pure Hard Workout, came out in 2008. This book shares his intense lifting program and was co-authored with his trainer, Joe Carini.
Tiki Barber has also written nine illustrated children's books with his brother Ronde:
- 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)
Images for kids
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Barber at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007
See also
- History of the New York Giants (1994–present)
- List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders
