Not many players retire from the NFL and get more camera time in their life after football.
New York Giants running back Tiki Barber is one of the select few.
Barber, 31, has the looks, charisma and speaking skills to succeed as a news broadcaster. And that's what he'll become soon after Saturday's Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium.
"I'm excited about what's coming next," said Barber, who announced he was retiring in October. "I'm ready for my next career."
Barber has already appeared on "Fox & Friends," and hosted the "Barber Shop" ? a talk show on Sirius radio ? with twin brother Ronde, a cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to reports, Barber could be getting up to $3 million a year from a major TV network. And don't expect him to only talk about sports. He's into hard news and politics.
Barber said his plans will be finalized in the "next couple of weeks."
He's doing something athletes rarely do ? retire at the top of his game.
This season, Barber rushed for 1,662 yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. He played in all 16 games the past five seasons, and finished his 10-year career with 10,449 rushing yards.
"I'm happy for him. He's ready for it," Ronde said. "There are challenges for him ahead."
The Barbers played together in youth leagues, at Cave Spring High School (Roanoke, Va.) and the University of Virginia.
They've been reunited at the past three Pro Bowls as members of the NFC squad.
"It's a long time we've been playing football together," Ronde said. "It's a long way from Roanoke, Virginia. To have this opportunity for the third year in a row ... It's nice for us. It's nice for our family. It's good to spend our last days as teammates together."
Tiki added: "I'm out here to enjoy the weather, camaraderie with my peers across the league and spend some time with my brother before I go do something else."
Ronde acknowledged it's not easy for players to think about their post-career lives while playing football, but his brother is an exception.
"It's easy to get caught up in the 'now,' " Ronde said. "I think in order to be good or great you have to be caught up in the 'now.' Tiki's got a unique opportunity because of where he is and the people he's been in contact with since he's been in the league. It's been natural for him to look toward the future. He's got a good opportunity and he's taking advantage of it."
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning never played with Barber, but his brother Eli did with the Giants the past three seasons.
Manning attended a tribute to Barber earlier this week in Honolulu.
"A guy like Tiki has been so supportive of Eli. I know how Eli feels about him," Manning said.
Manning added he presented Barber "a really cool pair of gold shoes.".:SIB
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