Ronnie Barnes has been around the Giants for all four of their Super Bowl victories. Now he has more personal accolades to add to his trophy case. In addition to being one of seven inductees into the Giants Ring of Honor this year, the senior vice president of medical services was recently enshrined in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
The 2022 class included Luke Appling, Missouri Arledge, Henry Bibby, Dan Brooks, Torry Holt, Sam Mills, Timmy Newsome, Dave Robbins and Tom Suiter. Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues also officially joined the NCSHOF. He was elected previously but could not attend the 2021 banquet.
"This year's class includes a wide variety of athletic achievement, including professional, collegiate, high school, Olympic sports, and media, with some special contributions," said Dr. Jerry McGee, president of the Hall's Board of Directors. "This class of inductees and their outstanding accomplishments continue to build on the rich sports heritage of North Carolina. We look forward to celebrating these outstanding individuals in our state's sports history."
Barnes has been with the Giants organization since 1976 and the team's head athletic trainer since 1980. He was promoted to the position of Vice President of Medical Services in 2003 and to Senior Vice President in 2011. During his 47 seasons with the team, Barnes has treated, counseled and befriended hundreds of players, coaches and staffers.
One of the most respected athletic trainers in professional sports, Barnes was elected to the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in June 1999. In 2002, he was voted the Athletic Trainer of the Year by NFL physicians.
That same year, his alma mater, East Carolina University, honored Barnes for his many contributions to the school by opening the Ronnie Barnes African American Resource Center at the school's Joyner Library. The 5,200-square foot resource center collects materials about the legacy and future of African Americans in eastern North Carolina and the Southeast. It includes books, software, journals and collections of works on such influential figures as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
Barnes was the first African American graduate of the Sports Medicine Department at ECU. He has since been elected to the East Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and been named a winner of the Outstanding Alumni Award.
On March 20, 2004, Barnes was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Fike High School in North Carolina.
In January 2019, Barnes was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a foundation which promotes diversity and minority hiring throughout the NFL, a cause Barnes has long fervently supported.
Since becoming the Giants' head athletic trainer, Barnes has twice been voted National Professional Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers Association. He served on the NATA board of certification for 10 years. Barnes is the past president of the NATA Research and Education Foundation. He is a member of the NFL Subcommittee on Mild Brain Trauma. Barnes recently completed a seven-year term as President of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society. In June of 1996, he was awarded the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. In 1999, Barnes and his assistants won the Ed Block Courage Award as the NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year.
Barnes has lectured nationally and internationally on sports medicine. He wrote a popular textbook in the medical field called Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, Third Edition. He was named the March of Dimes Man of the Year in 1994.
In addition to his duties with the Giants, Barnes is a member of the Hospital for Special Surgery Board of Advisors.
View photos of new Giants Ring of Honor inductee Ronnie Barnes.
New York Giants head athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants, left, tends to Myron Guyton (29) during a game from the Giants 1991 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants on the sideline during a game from the Giants 1985 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants tends to an injured player during a game from the Giants 1988 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Lawrence Taylor (56) of the New York Giants is tended to by trainer Ronnie Barnes, after being injured during a game from the Giants 1988 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants tends to Everson Walls (28) during a game from the Giants 1991 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Keith Hamilton (75) of the New York Giants is tended to by Ronnie Barnes during the Giants 31-24 win over the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 6, 1998.
Doug Riesenberg (72) of the New York Giants is tended to by trainer Ronnie Barnes prior to the Giants 24-15 win over the Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC on October 29, 1995.
Willie Beamon (21) of the New York Giants is tended to by trainers during a game from the Giants 1994 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Adrian White (36) of the New York Giants is helped off the field by Ronnie Barnes during a game from the Giants 1991 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Phil Simms (11) of the New York Giants is helped off the field by Ronnie Barnes, left, and Dr. Russell Warren during a game from the Giants 1990 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants tends to an injured play during the Giants 21-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, FL on November 24, 1991.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes and Dr. Russell Warren of the New York Giants help Mark Collins (25) off the field during the Giants 31-3 win over the Chicago Bears in the 1990 Divisional Playoff Game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on January 13, 1991.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants, left, tends to a player during the Giants 24-14 win over the Washington Redskins at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington D.C. on December 7, 1986.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes, right, and Dr. Russell Warren of the New York Giants tend to a player during a game from the Giants 1986 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants aides William Roberts (66) during the Giants 24-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA on October 21, 1984.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants on the field during a game from the Giants 1984 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Ronnie Barnes and Dr Russell Warren of the New York Giants tend to an injured player during a game from the Giants 1984 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants aides players in a timeout during a game from the Giants 1984 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants on the sideline during the Giants 24-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA on October 21, 1984.
Trainer Ronnie Barnes of the New York Giants aides William Roberts (66) during the Giants 24-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA on October 21, 1984.
Curtis McGriff (76) of the New York Giants is helped onto a cart by Ronnie Barnes during a game from the Giants 1981 season at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Former New York Giant Pepper Johnson talks with Ronnie Barnes during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Mike Friede (88) of the New York Giants is carried off the field by trainer Ronnie Barnes and Dr. Kim Sloan during the Giants 23-7 loss to the St Louis Cardinals at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on November 30, 1980.
Ronnie Barnes during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday June 10, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes during a preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday August 14th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head trainer Ronnie Barnes tends to an injured player during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ronnie Barnes during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 19, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ronnie Barnes during a preseason NFL football game against New England Patriots on Thursday August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, MA
Ronnie Barnes before a week 4 football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday October 3, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas (24) gets looked at by trainers Ronnie Barnes and Byron Hansen during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Monday August 22, 2011 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
Ronnie Barnes before a preseason NFL football game against New England Patriots on Thursday August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, MA
New York Giants head trainer Ronnie Barnes during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday July 29, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ronnie Barnes watches practice during a NFL minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 15, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ronnie Barnes during a preseason NFL football game against New England Patriots on Thursday August 11, 2022 in Foxborough, MA
New York Giants athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes runs on to the field to assist an injured player during a week 6 regular season football game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium onOctober 18th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ronnie Barnes during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 3, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ronnie Barnes during training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 8, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants senior vice President of medical services Ronnie Barnes during minicamp practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday June 10, 2021 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Head Athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes during a NFL minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday May 14, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants director of medical services Ronnie Barnes watches practice during NFL football mini camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 15, 2021 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants Vice President of medical services Ronnie Barnes during OTA practice on Tuesday May 28, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive lineman Markus Kuhn (78) gets helped off the field by trainers Byron Hansen and Ronnie Barnes during a week 10 football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 11, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants Vice President of medical services Ronnie Barnes during an OTA practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday June 2, 2021 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants director of medical services Ronnie Barnes during a NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday Dec.20, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants trainers Ronnie Barnes and Leigh Weiss carry injured safety Stevie Brown (27) off the field during a preseason football game against the New York Jets on August 24, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin talks with Senior Vice president of Medical service Ronnie Barnes during New York Giants OTA practice on Wednesday May 30, 2012 at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn is helped off the field by VP of medical services Ronnie Barnes after getting injured against the Carolina Panthers in a week 1 NFL football game at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday September 12, 2010 (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese talks with head coach Tom Coughlin and Vice president of medical services Ronnie Barnes following practice at football minicamp on June 16, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants director of Medical Services Ronnie Barnes tends to injured player Osi Umenyiora (72) against the Philadelphia Eagles during a NFL football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday November 1, 2009 (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants head athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes takes part in a week 2 regular season game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on Sunday September 15th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants trainers Ronnie Barnes and Steve Kenelly attend to injured player Barry Cofield (96) during the game against their NFC East rival Washington Redskins during a NFL football game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday September 13, 2009 (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) talks to Ronnie Barnes before he announces his retirement to the media after after 16 seasons with the New York Giants at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday January 23rd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New
