Is retired New York Giants running back Tiki Barber deserving of the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
That’s a question that’s been hotly debated since Barber’s controversial retirement following the 2006 season. But with the bad feelings finally subsiding, more and more Giants fans are beginning to come around to the idea.
Barber was electric during his time with the Giants and remains the team’s all-time leading rusher. He’s second behind only Brandon Jacobs in rushing touchdowns (55) and is fourth all-time in receiving (5,183).
What some might not know is that Barber is also fourth in franchise history in punt return yardage (1,181). And there are many, many more.
But the Hall of Fame isn’t about the franchise leaderboard. Rather, it’s about the best to ever play the game and how their production compares to the other elite.
Well, Barber is a standout there as well. And shortly after being announced as a pending inductee, Ronde Barber, Tiki’s twin, retweeted some statistics that make a strong case for his brother’s eventual enshrinement.
Now they’ll know!! I’m gonna keep saying it!! No question @TikiBarber is a HOFer! https://t.co/y9CWVCQQLi
— Rondé Barber (@rondebarber) February 10, 2023
Barber’s 17,359 all-purpose yards are among the most in NFL history. Only 16 players have more and the vast majority of those are either in the Hall of Fame or will soon be in the Hall of Fame.
But that early retirement will always linger over Barber like a dark cloud. The belief is that one more productive season would have guaranteed his ticket and that Super Bowl title would have been a nice punctuation mark.
Barber will once again be nominated for the Hall of Fame in 2024, but will he finally break through? Time will tell.
