Getty Images

Ronde Barber is coming back.

Barber, the Buccaneers cornerback who had been mulling retirement, has decided that he will return for his 16th season in Tampa Bay, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports.

Although Barber will turn 37 in a couple weeks and isn’t the same player he once was, the Bucs’ coaching staff and front office made clear that they wanted his veteran presence back as part of a young secondary that may get younger if the Bucs — as many expect them to — use the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Barber started all 16 games last season, the 12th consecutive season he’s done so, and he has the longest active streak of consecutive starts in the NFL, starting 199 games in a row.