Bucs CB Barber set to retire

May 9, 2013 - 3:22 AM (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran cornerback Ronde Barber is officially retiring from the NFL.

Barber will close the door on a 16-year tenure with the Bucs which resulted in three NFL All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl victory in 2002.

Tampa Bay will hold a press conference for Barber on Thursday at 2 p.m. (et) to make the announcement official.

The 38-year-old has been a staple of Tampa Bay's defense since the team drafted him out of Virginia in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He had started 215 consecutive games, the most in NFL history for a defensive back, since the 1999 campaign.

"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."

Barber haunted quarterbacks better than anyone who has ever played his position, totaling 47 interceptions with 28 sacks. His sack total is the most ever for a cornerback and is the only player in NFL history to record at least 25 sacks and 40 interceptions.

His 1,428 career tackles chart as the second highest total in franchise history and he owns the club record with nine interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Barber amassed a total of 14 return touchdowns over the course of his career, good for fourth most in NFL history.