Tiki Barber has alerted the NFL that he plans to come out of retirement and play in the 2011 season, sources close to the former New York Giants running back said Tuesday.

The agency that represents Barber confirmed the news on its Twitter account.

Barber has already filed the appropriate paperwork to the league and will become a free agent. The 35-year-old back, who turns 36 in April, retired in 2007. He played 10 seasons, all for the Giants, finishing his career as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

After retiring, Barber was hired by NBC to be a correspondent on The Today Show and Football Night In America. He made headlines for being critical of the motivational style of his former coach, Tom Coughlin, and scoffed at former teammate Eli Manning’s leadership abilities. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl in the first season after Barber’s retirement.

WRITTEN By Jon Wertheim, SI.com & FULL STORY HERE