Tiki Barber
Teams
New York Giants (1997-2006)
Playoffs
Appearances - 5 (1997,2000,2002,2005,2006)
Conf Champ Games - 1 (2000)
Super Bowls - 1 (2000)
Championships - 0
Awards and Honors
All-Pro First Team - 1 (2005)
Pro Bowl - 3 (2004,2005,2006)
All-Time Ranks
Scrimmage Yards - #15
Yards per Rush - #24
Rushing Yards - #27
Rushing Yards per Game - #53
Rushing Touchdowns - #65
Yards per Touch - #96
League Leads
Rushing Yards (#2-2005, #4-2006, #5-2004, #7-2002)
Rushing Touchdowns (#4-2004, #9-2002, #10-2005)
Yards per Rush (#2-2001, #3-2005, #5-2000,2006, #7-2004, #9-2002)
Rushing Yards per Game (#2-2005, #4-2006, #8-2002,2004)
Total Touchdowns (#4-2004)
Scrimmage Yards (#1-2004,2005, #4-2002, #5-2006, #8-2000)
Yards per Touch (#4-1999, #6-2004, #7-2005, #9-2006, #10-2000)
After back-to-back 1300-yard rushing seasons at Virginia, and an ACC Player of the Year award, Tiki Barber was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft.
In his first 3 seasons, Barber was used mostly as a punt returner, gaining less than 1000 yards rushing combined in those three years, but he was used to catch passes out of the backfield, with over 1200 yards receiving over that same time.
He became the starter in 2000, and he gained 1006 yards on the ground and a career-high 719 receiving that year, showing that he had the ability to be an every-down running back. He helped lead the Giants to the Super Bowl that year, where they were blown out by the Ravens 34-7.
After being slowed a little by injuries in 2001, he came back strong in 2002, gaining 1387 yards rushing and scoring 11 touchdowns on the ground, while amassing 1984 scrimmage yards, 4th-best in the NFL. After a slightly down 2003 season, he really hit his stride in 2004.
That year, he rushed for 1518 yards and 13 touchdowns, the best of his career, and he led the league with 2096 yards from scrimmage. In the final game of the season, he broke the Giants' single-season and career rushing records, both of which he still holds.
He had his best season in 2005, when he rushed for 1860 yards on 5.2 yards per carry, and finished with 2390 scrimmage yards, enough to lead the league again, and currently the 4th-highest total in history. His great season earned him his first All-Pro First Team nod, and also got him 4th place in the MVP race.
Early in the 2006 season, he announced that it would be his last. He had another great season, gaining 1662 yards on the ground, and 2127 total from scrimmage, giving him the highest total in both categories for a player in his final season. He is also one of 4 players ever to have 3 straight 2000-yard scrimmage seasons. True to his word, he retired at the end of the season, his 10th in the NFL.
Barber is one of the few running backs ever to retire at his peak. He is currently ranked #15 all-time in scrimmage yards and #24 in yards per carry, and is one of only 4 players ever to have over 5000 yards both rushing and receiving. He finished his career with 2 of the top 50 rushing yard seasons in history, and 3 of the top 50 scrimmage yard seasons ever, and though he probably had several more good seasons in the tank when he retired, there is no doubt that he is one of the best to ever play the game.
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