Photo Credit
This article was researched and compiled
by Carrie Birdsong
Jersey Numbers: 25, 31, 21
Position: Cornerback Born: February 13th, 1986
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Weight: 209 lbs.
High School: Berkner (Richardson, Texas)
College: Kansas (2004 – 2007)
NFL draft: 2008: 1st round, 20th pick
Career History:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 – 2012
2. New England Patriots 2012 – 2013
3. Denver Broncos 2014 – 2017
4. Los Angeles Rams 2018 – 2019
5. Miami Dolphins 2019
Career Highlights and Awards:
1. Super Bowl champion (Super Bowl 50)
2. First – Team All – Pro (2016)
3. Second – Team All – Pro (2013)
4. 5x Pro Bowl (2013 – 2017)
5. Jack Tatum Trophy (2007)
6. Unanimous All – American (2007)
7. 2x First – team All – Big 12 (2006, 2007)
Career NFL Statistics:
Total tackles: 462
Pass deflections: 125
Interceptions: 35
Forced fumbles: 5
Fumble recoveries: 4
Defensive touchdowns: 10
Talib is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the NFL. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks, earning unanimous All – American honors. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. Talib also played for the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Rams, winning Super Bowl 50 with Denver. In 2020, he made his debut as an analyst for the NFL on Fox.(1)
Early Life
Aqib Talib was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents Theodore Henry and Okolo Talib in a Muslim household. Talib is the youngest of four siblings; he has two older sisters, Saran and Kai, and an older brother, Yaqub(2). As the youngest of four children, he was named Aqib which means “the last one” in Arabic. His last name, Talib, means “student”. Aqib’s parents divorced when he was young, and he spent much of his childhood between Ohio and New Jersey. When Talib was in the eighth grade, his mother moved to Richardson, Texas, with him and his older brother.(2)
Talib attended Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas, and lettered in football, basketball, and track. In football, as a senior, he earned Berkner High School’s Defensive Back of the Year while garnering first – team all – district and first – team all – city honors. In track & field, he was a member of the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m relay squads.
As a college football prospect during his senior year, Talib was rated as a two – star recruit by Rivals.com. He was recruited by Kansas, Wyoming, Tulsa, Arizona, Kansas State, and Baylor. He chose to sign a National Letter of Intent to play for Kansas.(3)
College Career
Photo Credit
Talib attended the University of Kansas, where he played for the Kansas Jayhawks football team from 2004 – 2007.
Talib established himself as one of the best defensive college football players in the country as a junior in 2007, and was recognized as a unanimous All – American(4). He also continued to play sparingly as a wide receiver, catching four touchdown passes through the first nine games. Against rival Kansas State, Talib preserved a victory by intercepting a Josh Freeman pass in the final moments of the game. He also returned an interception for 102 yards for a touchdown against Florida International.(5) In the 2008 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, Talib returned an interception for a touchdown thrown by Tyrod Taylor and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. He announced on January 6th, 2008, that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2008 NFL draft.(6)
Talib was added to the Kansas Ring of Honor in 2017 along with his Orange Bowl Championship teammate Anthony Collins.(7)
Professional Career
Pre – Draft
As one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects, Talib
received an invitation to the 2008 NFL Combine, held at the RCA Dome in
Indianapolis, Indiana.(8)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Photo Credit:
2008
On July 25th, 2008, the Buccaneers signed Talib to a four – year, $14 million dollar contract that included $8 million dollars guaranteed.(15)
While attending the NFL’s rookie symposium, Talib got into a fight with fellow rookie and teammate Cory Boyd. He also overslept and missed a flight to Canton, Ohio, for a mandatory rookie function at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Talib also missed team meetings during organized team activities (OTAs) and training camp during his rookie season(15). Throughout training camp, Talib competed for a job as one of the starting cornerbacks against Phillip Buchanon. Head coach Jon Gruden named Talib the third cornerback on the depth chart behind veteran Ronde Barber and Buchanon to begin the regular season.(16) He made his professional regular season debut in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season – opener at the New Orleans Saints and made one solo tackle in their 24 – 20 loss. In week 2, Talib made his first career interception off a pass attempt by Atlanta Falcons’ rookie quarterback Matt Ryan as Tampa Bay defeated them 24 – 9. The following game, Talib was inactive for Tampa Bay’s 27 – 24 victory in Chicago against the Bears. On October 12th, 2008, he recorded a season – high three combined tackles, deflected two passes, and intercepted Jake Delhomme in a 27 – 3 win over the Carolina Panthers. On November 2nd, 2008, Talib made his first career start during the Buccaneers’ 30 – 27 victory in Kansas City against the Chiefs. He finished his rookie season in 2008 with 23 combined tackles (17 solo), nine pass deflections, and four interceptions in 15 games and two starts(17). Head coach Jon Gruden was fired after the Buccaneers finished third in the NFC South with a 9 – 7 record.(18)
2009
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers promoted defensive backs coach Raheem Morris to head coach(19). He named Talib the starting cornerback, alongside Ronde Barber, after Buchanon departed for the Detroit Lions in free agency.(20)
On October 4th, 2009, Talib recorded four solo tackles, three pass deflections, and had a career – high three interceptions off of Washington Redskins’ quarterback Jason Campbell during their 16 – 13 loss(21). Talib was inactive for the Buccaneers’ week 13 loss in Carolina against the Panthers. On December 20th, 2009, he collected a season – high eight combined tackles in their 24 – 7 win in Seattle against the Seahawks. He finished the 2009 season with a career – high 64 combined tackles (56 solo), 15 passes defended, and five interceptions in 15 games and 15 starts(22). Defensive coordinator Jim Bates was fired after a 1 – 9 start and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the season with a 3 – 13 record.(23)
2010
Head coach Raheem Morris retained defensive coordinator duties and opted to keep Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib as the starting cornerbacks. On August 31st, 2010, it was reported that the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued Talib a one – game suspension, to serve during the Buccaneers’ season – opener, for his involvement in the battery of a taxi driver (see Personal Life).(24)
He made his season debut in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers and recorded a tackle, a pass deflection, and an interception during their 20 – 7 victory. On October 31st, 2010, Talib recorded five solo tackles, two interceptions, and scored his first career touchdown in Tampa Bay’s 38 – 35 victory against the Arizona Cardinals. He intercepted quarterback Max Hall in the second quarter and returned it 45 – yards for his first career touchdown, but also was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for taunting during his return(25). In week 10, he recorded a season – high eight combined tackles and deflected a pass during a 31 – 16 victory against the Carolina Panthers. On December 6th, 2010, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed Talib on injured reserve due to a hip injury he suffered during a week 13 to the Atlanta Falcons(26). He finished the 2010 season with 40 combined tackles (39 solo), 11 pass deflections, a touchdown, and a career – high six interceptions in 11 games and 11 starts.(27)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished with a 10 – 6 record in 2010, but did not qualify for the playoffs after finishing third in their division(28). After the 2010 season, Talib was named Defensive Back of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association.(29)(30)
2011
Talib and Barber remained as the starting cornerback duo in 2011. He started the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season – opener against the Detroit Lions and recorded three solo tackles, two pass deflections, and returned an interception thrown by Matthew Stafford for a 28 – yard touchdown during their 27 – 20 loss to the Lions. In week 3, Talib made a season – high six solo tackles in a 16 – 13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. On November 27th, 2011, Talib recorded three combined tackles, deflected a pass, and scored his third career touchdown after intercepting Matt Hasslebeck and returning it 28 – yards during the Buccaneers’ 23 – 17 loss against the Tennessee Titans(31). He was sidelined for a week 11 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a hamstring injury. On December 19th, 2011, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed Talib on injured reserve due to a recurring hamstring injury(32)(33). He finished the season with 34 combined tackles (31 solo), 11 pass deflections, two interceptions, two touchdowns, and a forced fumble in 13 games and 13 starts.(34)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2011 season last in the NFC South with a 4 – 12 record and had a ten – game losing streak to end the season(35). On January 2nd, 2012, head coach Raheem Morris was fired by the Buccaneers after his third season.(36)
2012
New head coach Greg Schiano named Talib and newly acquired free agent Eric Wright the starting cornerbacks to begin the regular season after Ronde Barber was moved to free safety.
On September 15th, 2012, Talib recorded a season – high eight solo tackles during a 41 – 34 loss against the New York Giants(37). The following week, he made seven solo tackles, deflected a pass, and intercepted Tony Romo in their 16 – 10 loss against the Dallas Cowboys.(38)
On October 13th, 2012, Talib was suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the league’s policy on performance – enhancing substances. Talib’s positive result was for Adderall and he released a statement saying, “Around the beginning of training camp, I made a mistake by taking an Adderall pill without a prescription.”(39)
Part 2 of this article, Aquib Talib, will be posted
Friday August 8, 2025
