Barry Sanders

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American athlete Barry Sanders (born 1968) is largely regarded as one of the most talented running backs in National Football League (NFL) history. Sanders first displayed his almost supernatural ability to elude tacklers during his years playing forOklahoma State University (OSU), and his efforts earned him college football's top honor, the Heisman Trophy.

Sanders left OSU after his junior year, signing a lucrative deal with the NFL's Detroit Lions. He joined the team for its 1989-1980 season and quickly became the linchpin of the struggling franchise, earning the league's Rookie of the Year title. He continued to be one of the top scorers and rushers in the league, and stunned the sports world by abruptly announcing his retirement in 1999.

Sanders was born on July 16, 1968, in Wichita, Kansas, the seventh of 11 children of William Sanders, a roofer and carpenter, and Shirley Sanders, a nurse. William had worked at a meat scrap company before Barry was born, but was unfairly fired. He successfully sued the company and used his monetary award to open a roofing and contracting company, taking on his three young sons as assistants. William and Barry often watched professional football together on television, and the 5' 8" Sanders has cited some of the star running backs of the 1970s as early influences. "I probably picked up a lot of things from those great runners," he stated in a 1994 interview in Sport. "I remember watching guys like Tony Dorsett and [Terry] Metcalf when I was at a very impressionable age. I don't know if I made a conscious effort to be an O.J. Simpson or a Marcus Allen-type football player, but being small, I knew I had to be a creative, innovative runner - not your typical straight-ahead runner."

Demonstrated Early Talent

Sanders talent became apparent early on. He scored three touchdowns in his first youth league game for the Beech Red Barons, and although Sanders also played basketball, his father encouraged him to concentrate on football in the hopes of earning a college scholarship in the sport. William Sanders believed universities held more scholarship slots in football than basketball. Sanders' coaches at Wichita North High School were slow to take advantage of his talent, however, as they felt he feared getting hit and did not demonstrate the requisite agility. He played second-string for much of his high school career, but finally started at tailback with five games left in his senior season. In his last five games, Sanders rushed for 1, 417 yards. Demonstrating what would become trademark humility, he came within 34 yards of setting a city record for rushing. Since Wichita North was easily winning the game, Sanders left the field and, according to a 2003 article in Sports Illustrated, instructed his coaches to "let the young guys play." He made the All-State team and received honorable mention in the All-American contest.

Only a handful of universities recruited Sanders, and he ultimately chose Oklahoma State University, where he planned to study business. Team officials had promised him time to devote to his studies, but Sanders quickly found football obligations consuming his schedule, even though he was relegated to second string during his first two years. Despite the setbacks, by his sophomore year, he led the nation in both kick-off and punt returns. The following year, he set 13 NCAA rushing records, including most yards gained in one season (2,628) and most touchdowns in one season (39). As a result of his accomplishments, in 1988 he became only the eighth junior to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, college football's most coveted award. Again, Sanders avoided public attention, skipping a post-award luncheon with the president in order to finish his homework.

Joined NFL

After the 1988 season, the NCAA put the OSU football team on probation. Perhaps in part due to this development, as well as pressure from his father and a desire to help his family financially, Sanders opted out of his senior season at OSU and entered the NFL draft. The Detroit Lions picked him and Sanders held out for an astounding $6.1 million contract. A deeply religious man, he donated one-tenth of his $2.1 million signing bonus to the Paradise Baptist Church in Wichita. He also used his earnings to pay for his siblings' college education. Sanders quickly established himself as the centerpiece of Detroit's offense, although the team maintained its lukewarm record, going 7-9 in his first season and 6-10 in his second. Still, Sanders shone, gaining 1,470 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns in the 1989-90 season, earning him a spot on the Pro Bowl team and the league's Rookie of the Year honors. Sanders had a much-anticipated opportunity to set the season's rushing record. In the last game of the season, however, with only 10 yards to go to break the record, set just minutes before, Sanders walked off the field and refused to return. He obtained the record the following season, posting 1,304 yards, and again earned a Pro Bowl slot.

Sanders continued to carry his team in the following seasons, and remained reluctant to give interviews or place himself in the spotlight. He became renowned for both his talent on the field and his uncharacteristic behavior off it. He refused to go to clubs with his teammates, he used laundromats instead of hotel dry cleaners on vacation, and in 1993, while in London for the American Bowl, he stood in line to enter the Hard Rock Café, even though the rest of the team used the VIP passes they had been given which allowed them immediate entry. He even slept during Lions' games, awaking just in time to execute another breathtaking maneuver. "One of the first games I played with Barry, I was screaming, 'Barry's asleep!' and everybody was laughing at me," recalled former Lions receiver Brett Perriman in a 2003 Sports Ilustrated interview. "I hit him and woke him up, and his eyes were blood red - I mean, from a deep sleep. He went in, and the play was a toss to him. He went 71 yards. I said, 'Get out of here. This is God's gift. It just ain't fair.' "

Announced Retirement

Sanders signed increasingly more lucrative contracts with the Lions in subsequent years, routinely holding out until the team would meet his demands, but he stunned the sports world in 1999 when, after failing to report for spring training, he announced his retirement. While some have speculated that the talented running back had tired of the Lions' losing ways - the team had only a 78-82 record during his tenure and made the playoffs only five of his ten years with them - or that the move was a ploy to be released from his contract so he could play for another team, Sanders issued a press release stating, as quoted in a 1999 issue of Jet, "The reason I am retiring is simple: My desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. I have searched my heart through and through and feel comfortable with this decision." Sanders then headed for London, and when queried by a reporter at the city's Gatwick Airport about the reasons for his trip he responded, according to Jet, "I don't know the right way to retire. This is just my way of doing it." Sanders later became embroiled in legal controversy with the Lions, who refused to release him from his contract even after he offered to refund a portion of an $11 million signing bonus. The team ultimately prevailed and Sanders remained unable to sign with another franchise for the duration of his contract.

Once again, Sanders had stopped short of a milesone. With 15,269 total yards rushing in the NFL, he was only 1,459 yards shy of Walter Payton's all-time league rushing record. As the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in ten consecutive seasons, Sanders could have easily bested Payton, likely within one more year. Sanders told Sport in 1994 that such accomplishments bore little significance to him, however. "My attitude came from just wanting to go out and play football in some vacant lot with my friends," he said. "Football is a team sport, and it's not always necessary to carry the football so much. There are a ton of great players in this league, and you have to be realistic about what you are going to do at this level." Sanders married Detroit newscaster Lauren Campbell. The couple have a son, Nigel. Sanders also has a son, Barry James Sanders, from a previous relationship.

In 2004, Sanders was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He was the third-youngest Pro Hall of Fame inductee, behind the Chicago Bears' Gale Sayers and Jim Brown. Following the honors, he told Jet he would have liked to have made it to the Super Bowl. "I do know I missed out on playin in the Super Bowl and that is something I will always regret," he said. Yet, he said, his love of the game was his primary motivation. "My biggest achievent was just being out there. The anticipation (of) what was going to happen on the next play - that's what really drove me." In a 2003 Sports Illustrated article, fellow running back Emmitt Smith, who has played for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, summed up his competitors' contribution to the game: "To this day I tell any cat on that football field, you don't want to see Barry Sanders. B. Sanders would tear your kneecaps off. B. Sanders is one of the most creative, innovative runners who's ever played the game."

Books

Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 1, Gale Research 1992.

Newsmakers 1992, Issue Cumulation, Gale Research, 1992.

Periodicals

Detroit News, May 13, 2003.

Jet, August 16, 1999; August 30, 2004.

Sport, November 1994.

Sports Illustrated, February 3, 2003.

football player

Personal Information

Born on July 16, 1968, in Wichita, Kansas; son of William (a carpenter and roofer) and Shirley (a registered nurse) Sanders; married Lauren Campbell, November 11, 2000; children: three children
Education: Attended Oklahoma State University, 1985-88.

Career

Detroit Lions, National Football League, Professional football player, 1989-98.

Life's Work

Barry Sanders was one of the greatest football players of the 1990s and perhaps of all time. Although he always described himself as an "average person," Barry Sanders' accomplishments playing football are truly extraordinary. In his three years at Oklahoma State University, Sanders broke or tied 24 NCAA records on his way to winning college football's top honor, the Heisman Trophy. He followed by signing a $6.1 million pro football contract with the Detroit Lions, one of the largest ever offered to a first-year player. His rookie year in the National Football League was also impressive: he fell ten yards shy of the season individual rushing title, was selected as a starter for the Pro Bowl, and was named the league's Rookie of the Year. Over the course of ten seasons, Sanders was consistently one of the top performers in the league, and by averaging over 1,500 yards rushing per season he was on pace to shatter the all-time NFL rushing record. Sanders took football fans by surprise, however, when he announced in 1999 that he had lost the desire to compete and retired from the NFL.

Slow Starter

Barry James Sanders was born on July 16, 1968, in Wichita, Kansas. He was one of 11 children born to William (a roofer) and Shirley (a registered nurse) Sanders. From early on, the Sanders siblings learned the value of hard work and dedication. As soon as they could handle the tools of the trade, he and his two brothers were pressed into service as roofer's assistants by their father. Of Sanders' boyhood apprenticeship, Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press wrote: "All day they would labor, with the hammers, with the tar, sweating in the hot summer sun. You did not complain in the Sanders family. Not unless you wanted a good whupping."

Sanders was a natural athlete, and the sport he loved most was basketball. His father, however, felt that he had a better chance of winning a college scholarship if he played football, and so Barry played football. Sanders didn't see much playing time until his senior year at North High School in Wichita. In the last five games of his senior year Sanders finally saw action and came to life, rushing for more than 1,000 yards, giving him a total of 1,417 yards for the year and nearly setting a city record. His late blossoming won him All-State and honorable All-American honors, but Sanders was overlooked by many Division 1-A schools because of his small size. Just a few colleges offered scholarships to Sanders, and he accepted the offer from Oklahoma State University in parts because of its strong business program.

The demands of big-time college football came as a shock to Sanders. He later told the Sporting News: "I remember in my freshman year we didn't have any days off. I couldn't believe it, and it never got any better. They pretended (football) wasn't the main thing you were there for, but you were doing it 50 or 60 hours a week. I fell behind in my schoolwork." As in high school, Sanders didn't see much playing time at first. But there were glimmers of his future greatness, as he led the nation in both kick-off returns and punt returns during his sophomore year. During his junior year Sanders set 13 NCAA rushing records, including gaining the most yards in one season (2,628) and the most touchdowns in one season (39). As a result, Sanders overwhelmingly won the 1988 Heisman Trophy, becoming only the eighth junior to receive the award, and winning in the tenth-largest point margin ever.

Triumphed in the NFL

Sanders decided to forego his senior year at college and make himself eligible for the NFL draft, a move prompted by the NCAA putting the OSU Cowboys on probation after the 1988 season and Sanders' desire to relieve financial burdens on his family. His $6.1 million, five-year contract with the Detroit Lions--which carried with it a $2.1 million bonus--was one of the largest ever offered to a rookie. And as the statistics in his first year indicate, Sanders was worth the money. Although he didn't start the first two games of the season and missed parts of two others, Sanders managed to set the Lions' season rushing record and came just 10 yards short of the NFL's individual season rushing record--which he accomplished with 90 fewer carries than the winner, Christian Okoye.

People were impressed by Sanders' numbers, naturally, but they were even more impressed by the way he piled up the yards. Sanders was an amazingly difficult running back to tackle; he kept a low center of gravity and used a dizzying arrays of spins and turns to elude tacklers. "I remember bracing myself to hit him," recalled Chicago Bears defensive end Trace Armstrong in Sports Illustrated. "He just stopped and turned, and he was gone. He's like a little sports car. He can stop on a dime and go zero to 60 in seconds." After watching two of Sanders' performances in his first season, ex-Chicago Bear Walter Payton, then the NFL's all-time leading rusher, said of the speedy 5'-8", 200-pound running back: "I don't know if I was ever that good." Green Bay Packers linebacker Brian Noble similarly remarked: "He runs so low to the ground and is so strong and elusive; it makes him very difficult to get a piece of him. You never get the shot at him. Usually, when you get to him, he's not there anymore." Pat Jones, Sanders' college coach, had this to say in Sporting News: "If someone was to ask me who the most explosive back I've coached is, that would be Barry, as far as a guy who can take your breath away and is liable to score on every down.... I don't know that I've ever seen anyone like him with my own eyes."

Nearly as striking as his accomplishments on the field was Sanders' modest demeanor off the field. Sanders was notoriously reticent to discuss his play, preferring instead to divert attention toward his teammates. He told the Sporting News that he was "uncomfortable being valued because of how well I play football" and that he sees a liability in realizing he is an exceptional player. "If that's the case, I can prove it on the field. I don't have to talk about [it]. That's where athletes have problems off the field. People treat them differently and you start thinking you're better than everybody else. You're not."

During his second season game with the Lions, Sanders had the opportunity to enter the last game of the season and obtain the 10 yards he needed for the league season rushing record. Sanders insisted, however, that Coach Wayne Fontes continue playing back-up running back, Tony Paige. When Sanders was later asked if he had any regrets about not winning the rushing title, he told Austin Murphy in Sports Illustrated: "I satisfied my ego last season." A deeply religious person, Sanders also prefers to keep that side to himself. Said Fontes in Sports Illustrated: "He doesn't wear his beliefs on his sleeve.... Barry's not the type of guy who scores a TD and kneels down in front of everyone in the world. He's not for show, he's for real."

Retired on the Edge of Glory

Over the next nine seasons as a Lion, Sanders continued to chalk up amazing numbers. Averaging 4.5 yards per rushing attempt in 1991, he compiled a total of 1,548 yards and scored 16 touchdowns rushing. In 1992 his total rushing yardage slipped 1,352, and he averaged 4.3 yards per rushing attempt. Plagued by injury in 1993, Sanders managed to pile up only 1,115 rushing yards, yet he pushed his average per rushing attempt to 4.6 yards. Sanders broke through for 1,883 yards during the 1994 season, averaging 5.7 yards per rushing attempt but scoring only seven touchdowns rushing. The next year he averaged 4.8 yards per rushing attempt for a total of 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. In 1996 Sanders averaged 5.1 yards per rushing attempt for a total of 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. In 1997 he dashed for 2,053 yards, averaging a stunning 6.1 yards per rushing attempt. Sanders' rushing yardage slipped just below the 1,500-mark in 1998, when he averaged only 4.3 yards per rushing attempt. At the end of the 1998 season, Sanders had a career total of 15,269, trailing the career record of 16,726 set by Walter Payton by only 1,457 yards. Around the NFL, people spoke openly about the chance that Sanders might break the career rushing record during the 1999 season.

The expectations of the football world were crushed, however, when Sanders announced just prior to the opening of training camp in 1999 that he was retiring from football. "The reason I am retiring is simple," Sanders said in a press release, "My desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. I have searched my heart through and through and feel comfortable with this decision." Fans and sportswriters agonized over Sanders' decision, wondering whether Sanders was just holding out for more money or was trying to get traded to a team more likely to advance in the playoffs than the perennially hapless Lions. He engaged in an acrimonious dispute with the Lions over the money remaining on his contract, and was eventually ordered to return several million dollars to the team. In the end, Sanders remained true to his word and stayed retired. His enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004, alongside Carl Eller and Bob Brown, seemed to end the persistent rumors about his return to football. In his induction ceremony Sanders proclaimed that the only thing that he missed in his career was the thrill of playing in the Super Bowl. He still lives in the Detroit area with his wife, Lauren, and their three children.

Awards

Sporting News College All-America Team; 1987, Heisman Trophy Award, 1989; Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year; 1989-90, Pro Bowl selection, 1989-98; NFC Most Valuable Player, NFL Players Association, 1991; Sporting News Player of the Year, 1997; inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2004.

Further Reading

Books

• Knapp, Ron, Sports Great Barry Sanders, Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1999.
• Sanders, Barry, with Mark E. McCormick, Barry Sanders (includes DVD), Indianapolis: B. Sanders with Emmis Books, 2003.

• Detroit Free Press, December 17, 1989.
• Jet, January 9, 1989; February 13, 1989; May 29, 1989.
• New York Times, November 23, 1988; December 4, 1988; January 1, 1989; March 31, 1989; April 5, 1989; September 12, 1989; September 15, 1989.
• Sport, November 1, 1994; September 1, 1998.
• Sporting News, October 24, 1988; April 24, 1989; November 20, 1989; January 15, 1990; December 4, 1995; July 21, 1997; August 10, 1998; September 7, 1998; August 9, 1999.
• Sports Illustrated, April 10, 1989; September 10, 1990; August 9, 1999; February 3, 2003; December 6, 2004.

• Barry Sanders: The Official Site. www.barrysanders.com (August 4, 2005).

— Michael E. Mueller and Tom Pendergast

For the historian and author, see Barry Sanders (professor).

Barry Sanders

Sanders in 2005.
No. 20
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: July 16, 1968 (1968-07-16) (age 43)
Place of birth: Wichita, Kansas
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College: Oklahoma State
NFL Draft: 1989 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
Debuted in 1989 for the Detroit Lions
Last played in 1998 for the Detroit Lions
Career history
Detroit Lions (1989-1998)
Career highlights and awards
Rated #1 Most Elusive Running Back of All Time by NFL.com Rated #17 NFL Player of all-time by NFL.com NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1989) 10× Pro Bowl (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) 10× All-Pro (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) 4× NFL Rushing champion (1990, 1994, 1996, 1997) NFL Alumni Running Back of the Year (1997) AP NFL MVP (1997) NEA NFL MVP (1997) PFWA NFL MVP (1997) 2× AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1994, 1997) 2× Bert Bell Award (1991, 1997) Single Season 2,000 Rushing Yards Club 10,000 Rushing Yards Club NFL 1990's All-Decade Team Heisman Trophy (1988) Consensus All-American (1988) Holds 10 Detroit Lions team records Detroit Lions #20 retired Third-leading rusher in NFL history
Career NFL statistics as of 1998
Rushing Yards	15,269
Average	5.0
Touchdowns	109
Stats at NFL.com
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Barry Sanders^[1] (born July 16, 1968) is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record. Sanders is a member of the college and professional football halls of fame. He is considered one of the greatest running backs of all time.

Contents 1 Early years 2 College career 2.1 College statistics 3 Professional career 3.1 1997 season 3.2 Retirement 4 Personal life 5 After football 6 Records 6.1 Collegiate 6.2 Professional 7 Career statistics 7.1 Regular season 8 Notes and references 9 External links

Early years

A Wichita, Kansas native, Sanders attended Wichita North High School.^[2] Sanders did not play running back until the fourth game of his senior year in 1985. He rushed for 1,322 yards in the final seven games of the season, which earned him all-state honors. He was, however, overlooked by most college recruiters because of his 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) size.

College career

Sanders played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 1986 to 1988, and wore the #21. During his first two years, he backed up All-American Thurman Thomas. In 1987, he led the nation in kickoff return yards. Thomas moved on to the NFL, and Sanders became the starter for his junior year.

In 1988, in what has been called the greatest individual season in college football history,^[3] Sanders led the nation by averaging 7.6 yards per carry and over 200 yards per game, including rushing for over 300 yards in four games. Despite his massive workload of 344 carries, Sanders was still used as the team's punt and kickoff returner, adding another 516 yards on special teams. He set college football season records with 2,628 yards rushing, 3,248 total yards, 234 points, 39 touchdowns, of which 37 were rushing (also a record), 5 consecutive 200 yard games, scored at least 2 touchdowns in 11 consecutive games, and 9 times he scored at least 3 touchdowns. Sanders also ran for 222 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in his three quarters of action in the Holiday Bowl - a game that was not included with his season statistics.^[4] Sanders won the Heisman Trophy as the season's most outstanding player.^[5] He then chose to leave Oklahoma State before his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

College statistics

Source: [3]

• Note the college statistics include Sanders' 1987 and 1988 bowl games, which prior to 2002 were not included in official NCAA career statistics.

		Rushing						Receiving
Season	Team	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Yds/G	TD	Rec	Yds	Long	TD
1986	OSU		74	325	4.4		2	0	0	0	0
1987	OSU		111	622	5.6		8	4	59		1
1988	OSU	12	373	2,850	7.6	237.5	42	19	106		2
	Total		558	3,797	5.9		52	23	165		3

Professional career

The Detroit Lions selected Sanders with the 3rd overall pick in the 1989 Draft,^[2] thanks to the endorsement of then-coach Wayne Fontes. The Lions' management considered drafting another Sanders, cornerback Deion Sanders, but Fontes convinced them to draft Barry Sanders instead. He was offered the #20, which had been worn by former Lions' greats Lem Barney and Billy Sims; Sims was one of the league's best running backs in the early 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

Though there were concerns about his size, it turned out these concerns were unfounded. Sanders was far too quick for defenders to hit solidly on a consistent basis, and too strong to bring down with arm tackles. Though short at 5'8", his playing weight was 203 lb (91 kg) and Sanders had a large portion of this weight in his exceptionally large and muscular legs, which provided him with a very low center of mass; his weight was also the same as Walter Payton and only slightly under the NFL average for a back. Further, Sanders was able to dazzle onlookers at an ESPN slam dunk contest by jamming comfortably from a flat footed position^{[citation needed]} demonstrating his other defining characteristic: explosiveness. His agility and quick acceleration combined with his low center of mass made him very difficult to bring down.

In contrast to many of the star players of his era, Sanders was also noted for his on-field humility. Despite his flashy playing style, Sanders was rarely seen celebrating after the whistle was blown. Instead, he preferred to hand the ball to a referee or congratulate his teammates. But perhaps no other player in NFL history has ever electrified a crowd every time he touched the ball like Sanders, who played all 10 of his NFL seasons in Detroit. Lions fans remember fondly the thunderous "Barry! Barry!" chants that roared in the Pontiac Silverdome in the 1990s.^{[citation needed]}

In his rookie year in 1989, Sanders missed training camp due to a contract dispute. Despite that, he ran for 18 yards on his first carry,^[2] and scored a touchdown on his fourth.^{[citation needed]} He finished the season second in the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns after declining to go back into the regular season finale just 10 yards shy of the rushing title (later won by Christian Okoye), and won the Rookie of the Year Award.^[6]

Barry was the featured running back on the Lion teams that made the playoffs five times during the 1990s (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1997). He was a member of the 1991 and 1993 squads that won the NFC Central division title; the 1991 team won 12 regular season games (a franchise record).

In 1994, Sanders rushed for 1,883 yards, on a 5.7 yards per carry average. He also totaled 283 receiving yards, which gave him a combined 2,166 yards from scrimmage for the season. He was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. In 1995, Sanders posted 1,500 yards rushing with 398 receiving yards, beating his rushing total alone of the '94 season. In 1996, Sanders rushed for 1,553 yards with a career-low 147 receiving yards. Sanders' greatest season came in 1997 (see below), when he rushed for a career-high 2,053 yards.

In Sanders' last season in the NFL, 1998, he rushed for 1,491 yards, ending his four-year streak of rushing for over 1,500 yards in a season.

Despite his individual success, the Lions never reached the Super Bowl while Sanders was with the team.^[2] The closest they came was in the 1991 season.^[2] Aided by Sanders' 1,855 combined rushing/receiving yards and 17 touchdowns during the season, they recorded a 12–4 record and went on to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 38–6 in the divisional playoffs, which still stands as Detroit's only playoff victory since defeating the Cleveland Browns to win the 1957 NFL Championship. The Lions lost to the Washington Redskins 41–10 in the NFC Championship Game, and Sanders was held to 59 total yards in the game.

In Sanders' career, he achieved Pro Bowl status in all of his 10 seasons as a pro.^[2] Sanders was named first team All-Pro eight times from 1989–1991 and 1993–1997 and was named second team All-Pro twice in 1992 and 1998. Sanders was also named All-NFC from 1989-1992 to 1994-1997. Sanders was named NFL Rookie of the Year in '89,^[2] Offensive Player of the Year in '94 and '97, NFL MVP in '97, and was named to the 1990s NFL All-Decade team.

Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman wrote:

"It doesn't matter where the play is blocked; he'll find his own soft spot...The scheme doesn't matter with Sanders. He can run from any alignment. While other people are stuck with joints, he seems to have ball bearings in his legs that give him a mechanical advantage...Sanders' finest runs often occur when he takes the handoff and, with a couple of moves, turns the line of scrimmage into a broken field...Nobody has ever created such turmoil at the point of attack as Sanders has...Knock on wood, he seems indestructible..."

1997 season

Sanders' greatest season came in 1997 when he became a member of the 2000 rushing yards club. After a start in which he gained 53 yards on 25 carries in the first two games of the season, Sanders ran off an NFL record 14 consecutive 100 yard games, including two 200 yard performances, en route to rushing for 2,053 yards. In reaching the 2,000 yard plateau, he became only the third player to do so in a single season and the first since O. J. Simpson to rush for 2,000 yards in a span of 14 consecutive games. He was the first running back to rush for 1,500 yards in five seasons and the only one to do it four consecutive years. At the end of the season, Sanders shared the Associated Press's NFL Most Valuable Player Award with Green Bay QB Brett Favre.

Week	Team	Carries	Yards	Average
1	ATL	15	33	2.2
2	TB	10	20	2.0
3	at CHI	19	161	8.5
4	at NO	18	113	6.3
5	GB	28	139	5.0
6	at BUF	25	107	4.3
7	at TB	24	215	9.0
8	NYG	24	105	4.4
9	at GB	23	105	4.6
10	at WAS	15	105	7.0
11	MIN	19	108	5.7
12	IND	24	216	9.0
13	CHI	19	167	8.8
14	at MIA	30	137	4.6
15	at MIN	19	138	7.3
16	NYJ	23	184	8.0
1997	TOTAL	335	2,053	6.1

Retirement

Sanders stunned many when he announced he was quitting pro football. His retirement was made public by faxing a letter to the Wichita Eagle, his hometown newspaper in July 1999.^[7]

He left football healthy, having gained 15,269 rushing yards, 2,921 receiving yards, and 109 touchdowns (99 rushing and 10 receiving). He retired within striking distance of Walter Payton's career rushing mark of 16,726 yards. Only Payton and Emmitt Smith have rushed for more yards than Sanders.

Sanders' retirement came somewhat unexpectedly and was a matter of controversy. Two years beforehand, Sanders had renewed his contract with the Lions for $35.4 million over six years with an $11 million signing bonus. When he retired with several years left on his contract, the Lions demanded that he return $7.3 million of the bonus.^[8] Sanders refused, and the Lions sued and eventually won a judgment against him. On February 15, 2000, arbitrator Sam Kagel ruled that Sanders was in default of his bonus agreement and owed $5.5 million plus interest over the next three years.^[9]

Several years after retirement, and repeated refusals to discuss the abruptness of it, Sanders finally admitted that the culture of losing in the Lions' organization was too much to deal with even though he said that he could still play. He explained that it robbed him of his competitive spirit, and he saw no reason to believe things were going to improve. Although Detroit had made the playoffs in five of his ten seasons, including the season prior to his retirement (losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-10 on the road in a 1998 NFC Wild Card game), Detroit drafted quarterback Charlie Batch in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. It became apparent that Batch would become Detroit's full time starter the next season, and Sanders seemed unwilling to embrace yet another change in the Lions' seemingly endless carousel of quarterbacks and offensive philosophies. He had also gone on record to criticize Detroit's front office (most notably Chuck Schmidt) for releasing Pro Bowl center Kevin Glover for salary cap reasons. Glover was an underrated player and close friend of Sanders. He stated there were tears in his eyes as the Lions lost in the playoffs to Tampa Bay in 1998, because he knew in his heart he was never going to play another playoff game for Detroit. "I sobbed for 3 months," Sanders said.^[10]

There was widespread speculation that Sanders' retirement was a calculated move on his behalf to orchestrate a trade to a more legitimate contender. The Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins were both considered among the front runners in the negotiations. Sanders and Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino reportedly both expressed a private interest in finishing their careers together (Marino never had the benefit of a premier running back behind him) and try to win a Super Bowl. However, Detroit was either unable to find an attractive enough offer, or unwilling to negotiate altogether with other teams. It had been a long standing practice for the Detroit Lions to not accommodate players' requests for trades.

It was thought by some that Bobby Ross himself may have actually been the reason for his early retirement. Sanders, however, debunked this theory in his autobiography; Barry Sanders: Now You See Him, saying that Coach Ross had nothing to do with his quitting and actually praised him as a great head coach.

Personal life

Barry currently resides in West Bloomfield, Michigan, just outside of Detroit. He is married to Lauren Campbell, currently a news anchor on a local news station, and the couple have three children together. From a previous relationship with Aletha House, Sanders also has a son, Barry James Sanders, who committed to Stanford for the 2012-2013 college season.^[11] As a freshman in 2008, Sanders' son ran for 742 yards and twelve touchdowns while helping Heritage Hall School to the 2008 Oklahoma 2A state title,^[12][13] and he was the only sophomore on the 2009 Tulsa World all-state team.^[14] Sanders' son has committed to Stanford University, beginning 2012-2013.^[15]

After football

Following the firing of Hank Williams, Jr. in October 2011, Sanders replaced Williams in introducing ESPN's Monday Night Football game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions.^[16]

Records

Collegiate

• He set 34 NCAA records
• He holds the national college single-season rushing record with 2,628 rushing yards in 1988.
• In 1988, Sanders won the Heisman Trophy while attending Oklahoma State University.
• In 2008, Sanders was ranked #2 in ESPN's list of the Top 25 Greatest College Football Players Ever.

Professional

• In the 1989 NFL draft, he was selected in the 1st round (3rd overall) by the Detroit Lions.
• As a receiver, Sanders had 352 receptions for 2,921 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Detroit Lions.
• Sanders led the NFL in rushing yards four times. 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997.
• Most Seasons, 1,100 or More Yards Rushing (10) tied with Walter Payton
• Most Consecutive Seasons, 1,100 or More Yards Rushing (10)
• Most Seasons, 1,300 or More Yards Rushing (9) tied with Walter Payton
• Most Seasons, 1,400 or More Yards Rushing (7)
• Most Consecutive Seasons, 1,400 or More Yards Rushing (5) tied with Emmitt Smith, 1991–1995
• Most Seasons, 1,500 or More Yards Rushing (5)
• Most Consecutive Seasons, 1,500 or More Yards Rushing (4)
• In 1997, he set an NFL record by rushing for at least 100 yards in 14 consecutive games and became only the third player to reach 2,000 yards in a single season. He shared the NFL MVP award with Brett Favre.
• During the final 14 games of the 1997 season Sanders rushed for exactly 2000 yards on 310 carries (6.5 yd./carry), a figure which bears comparison with O.J. Simpson's 14-game mark of 2003 yards on 332 carries (6.0 yd./carry).
• Each of his 10 years from 1989 through 1998 he was first- or second-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl.
• Over his professional football career, he rushed for at least 100 yards in 76 games, just short of Walter Payton's 77 games and Emmitt Smith's 78 games.
• NFL record 25 games in which Sanders rushed for 150 yards or more. Jim Brown is second with 22 games.
• NFL record 46 games in which Sanders had 150 yards from scrimmage or more. Walter Payton is second with 45.
• 15 career touchdown runs of 50 yards or more, most in NFL history. Jim Brown is second with 12.
• At the time of his retirement, Sanders' 15,269 career rushing yards placed him second behind Walter Payton's 16,726 yards. At Sanders' then-current yearly yardage pace, he would have eclipsed Payton within one or two years. Payton died from liver cancer at age 45 just months after Sanders' sudden retirement.
• His 18,190 career yards from scrimmage place him sixth on the all-time list.
• His career average of 5.0 yards per rushing attempt (min. 1500 att) is second all-time for running backs. Jim Brown is first with a 5.2 career average.
• His career rushing yards per game average of 99.8 yards is second in NFL history behind only Jim Brown's 104.3 yards per game.
• In 1999, he was ranked number 12 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, making him the highest-ranking Lions player and the third highest ranked running back, behind Jim Brown and Walter Payton.
• On January 31, 2004, he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• On August 8, 2004, he was inducted to the Hall of Fame along with Bob Brown, Carl Eller, and John Elway.
• Sanders also holds the NFL record for the most carries for negative yardage. According to the SI Book of Football, these numbers totaled 336 carries for -952 Yards.

Career statistics

Regular season

¹Led league ²Second place ³Third place ^†Tied

Year-Age	Rushing					Receiving					Total
	Att	Yds	Avg	TD		Rec	Yds	Avg	TD		Yds	TD
1989 - 21	280	1,470²	5.3	142†		24	282	11.8	0		1,752³	14
1990 - 22	255	1,304¹	5.1	13³		36	480	13.3	3		1,784²	16¹
1991 - 23	342²	1,548²	4.5	16¹		41	307	7.5	1		1,855²	17¹
1992 - 24	3123†	1,352	4.3	9		29	225	7.8	1		1,577	10
1993 - 25	243	1,115	4.6	3		36	205	5.7	0		1,320	3
1994 - 26	331	1,883¹	5.7	7		44	283	6.4	1		2,166¹	8
1995 - 27	314	1,500²	4.8	11		48	398	8.3	1		1,898²	12
1996 - 28	307	1,553¹	5.1	11		24	147	6.1	0		1,700³	11
1997 - 29	335	2,053¹	6.1	113†		33	305	9.2	3		2,358¹	14³
1998 - 30	343	1,491	4.3	4		37	289	7.8	0		1,780	4
Total (all-time)	3,062 (4th)	15,269 (3rd)	5.0	99 (8th)		352	2,921	8.3	10		18,190 (4th)	109 (10th)

Notes and references

1. ^ Sanders, Barry. "Barry Sanders' Twitter account". Twitter. Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/barrysanders/status/139408024900079616. "When the truth is - I have no middle name. Thus making my son, Barry James Sanders, not a Barry "junior"." 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} http://www.sporthaven.com/players/barry-sanders/ - Barry Sanders Career Biography and Statistics | SportHaven.com
3. ^ Merron, Jeff. "Best individual college football seasons". ESPN. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/collegefootball/seasons.html. Retrieved 2007-08-12.  Marron wrote, The only serious question when composing this list was "Who's No. 2? as 1983 Heisman winner Mike Rozier had averaged 7.8 yards per carry and still holds the NCAA rushing record but wasn't included in the list.
4. ^ "1988 Holiday Bowl Summary". http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1988.html. Retrieved 2007-12-29. 
5. ^ "Heisman Trophy / 1988 - 54th Award". http://www.heisman.com/winners/b-sanders88.html. Retrieved 2007-08-12. ^{[dead link]}
6. ^ Marron, Jeff. "LT best NFL rookie of all time". ESPN. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/nflrookies.html. Retrieved 2007-08-12. 
7. ^ "The Cheap Seats: Finally, Sanders Speaks" 3 December 2003
8. ^ Lions Ask That Sanders Bonus Be Repaid
9. ^ "Ruling: Barry in default", The Detroit News, 16 February 2000.
10. ^ In Their Own Words, NFL Network
11. ^ [1]
12. ^ Barry Sanders'son looks like future star
13. ^ video clips of Barry Sanders' son
14. ^ Matt Baker, "In his father's image: Barry James Sanders is familiar, but for more than his name", Tulsa World, August 30, 2010.
15. ^ [2]
16. ^ "Barry Sanders to open MNF sans song". UPI.com. October 8, 2011. http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/10/08/Barry-Sanders-to-open-MNF-sans-song/UPI-86401318083352/. Retrieved 2011-10-08. 

• Ron Knapp Sports Great Barry Sanders Revised Edition copyright date 1999 page 16
• Gil Brandt. "Hall recall: Barry Sanders", NFL.com, July 22, 2004.
• Craig Ellenport. "Sanders was born to run", NFL.com, August 8, 2004.
• Mark McCormick and Barry Sanderss. Barry Sanders: Now you See Him: His Story in His Own Words (Emmis Books, 2003). ISBN 1-57860-139-8
• Sam Mellinger. "A Hard Man to Catch", The Kansas City Star, August 8, 2004, pp. C1, C8.

External links

• Official website
• Barry Sanders on Twitter
• Barry Sanders's channel on YouTube

• Barry Sanders at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Barry Sanders at the College Football Hall of Fame
• Barry Sanders at the Heisman Trophy
• Barry Sanders at Pro-Football-Reference.com

v d e 1988 College Football All-America Team consensus selections Offense QB Steve Walsh & Troy Aikman | RB Barry Sanders | RB Anthony Thompson | RB Tim Worley | WR Jason Phillips | WR Hart Lee Dykes | TE Marv Cook OL Tony Mandarich | OL Anthony Phillips | OL Mike Utley | OL Mark Stepnoski | C Jake Young | C John Vitale Defense DL Mark Messner | DL Tracy Rocker | DL Wayne Martin | DL Frank Stams | DL Bill Hawkins LB Derrick Thomas | LB Broderick Thomas | LB Michael Stonebreaker DB Deion Sanders | DB Donnell Woolford | DB Louis Oliver | DB Darryl Henley Special teams PK Kendall Trainor | P Keith English

v d e Heisman Trophy winners 1935: Berwanger 1936: Kelley 1937: Frank 1938: O'Brien 1939: Kinnick 1940: Harmon 1941: B. Smith 1942: Sinkwich 1943: Bertelli 1944: Horvath 1945: Blanchard 1946: G. Davis 1947: Lujack 1948: D. Walker 1949: Hart 1950: Janowicz 1951: Kazmaier 1952: Vessels 1953: Lattner 1954: Ameche 1955: Cassady 1956: Hornung 1957: Crow 1958: Dawkins 1959: Cannon 1960: Bellino 1961: E. Davis 1962: Baker 1963: Staubach 1964: Huarte 1965: Garrett 1966: Spurrier 1967: Beban 1968: Simpson 1969: Owens 1970: Plunkett 1971: Sullivan 1972: Rodgers 1973: Cappelletti 1974: Griffin 1975: Griffin 1976: Dorsett 1977: Campbell 1978: Sims 1979: C. White 1980: Rogers 1981: Allen 1982: H. Walker 1983: Rozier 1984: Flutie 1985: Jackson 1986: Testaverde 1987: Brown 1988: Sanders 1989: Ware 1990: Detmer 1991: Howard 1992: Torretta 1993: Ward 1994: Salaam 1995: George 1996: Wuerffel 1997: Woodson 1998: Williams 1999: Dayne 2000: Weinke 2001: Crouch 2002: Palmer 2003: J. White 2004: Leinart 2005: vacated * 2006: T. Smith 2007: Tebow 2008: Bradford 2009: Ingram 2010: Newton 2011: Griffin III *Note: The 2005 Heisman Trophy was originally awarded to Reggie Bush, but Bush forfeited the award in 2010. The Heisman Trust subsequently decided to leave the 2005 award vacated.

v d e Maxwell Award winners 1937: Frank 1938: O'Brien 1939: Kinnick 1940: Harmon 1941: Dudley 1942: Governali 1943: Odell 1944: G. Davis 1945: Blanchard 1946: Trippi 1947: D. Walker 1948: Bednarik 1949: Hart 1950: Bagnell 1951: Kazmaier 1952: Lattner 1953: Lattner 1954: Beagle 1955: Cassady 1956: McDonald 1957: Reifsnyder 1958: Dawkins 1959: Lucas 1960: Bellino 1961: Ferguson 1962: Baker 1963: Staubach 1964: Ressler 1965: Nobis 1966: Lynch 1967: Beban 1968: Simpson 1969: Reid 1970: Plunkett 1971: Marinaro 1972: Van Pelt 1973: Cappelletti 1974: Joachim 1975: Griffin 1976: Dorsett 1977: Browner 1978: Fusina 1979: C. White 1980: Green 1981: Allen 1982: H. Walker 1983: Rozier 1984: Flutie 1985: Long 1986: Testaverde 1987: McPherson 1988: Sanders 1989: Thompson 1990: Detmer 1991: Howard 1992: Torretta 1993: Ward 1994: Collins 1995: George 1996: Wuerffel 1997: P. Manning 1998: Williams 1999: Dayne 2000: Brees 2001: Dorsey 2002: Johnson 2003: E. Manning 2004: J. White 2005: Young 2006: Quinn 2007: Tebow 2008: Tebow 2009: McCoy 2010: Newton 2011: Luck

v d e Walter Camp Award winners 1967: Simpson 1968: Simpson 1969: Owens 1970: Plunkett 1971: Sullivan 1972: Rodgers 1973: Cappelletti 1974: Griffin 1975: Griffin 1976: Dorsett 1977: MacAfee 1978: Sims 1979: White 1980: Green 1981: Allen 1982: Walker 1983: Rozier 1984: Flutie 1985: Jackson 1986: Testaverde 1987: Brown 1988: Sanders 1989: Thompson 1990: Ismail 1991: Howard 1992: Torretta 1993: Ward 1994: Salaam 1995: George 1996: Wuerffel 1997: Woodson 1998: Williams 1999: Dayne 2000: Heupel 2001: Crouch 2002: Johnson 2003: Fitzgerald 2004: Leinart 2005: Bush 2006: Smith 2007: McFadden 2008: McCoy 2009: McCoy 2010: Newton 2011: Luck

v d e Sporting News College Football Player of the Year winners 1942: Sinkwich 1943: Bertelli 1944: Horvath 1945: Blanchard 1946: G. Davis 1947: Lujack 1948: D. Walker 1949: Hart 1950: Janowicz 1951: Kazmaier 1952: Vessels 1953: Lattner 1954: Cassady 1955: Cassady 1956: McDonald 1957: Crow 1958: Cannon 1959: Cannon 1960: Bellino 1961: Ferguson 1962: Baker 1963: Staubach 1964: Butkus 1965: Anderson & Grabowski 1966: Spurrier 1967: Beban 1968: Simpson 1969: Owens 1970: Plunkett 1971: Sullivan & Marinaro 1972: B. Jones 1973: Hicks 1974: Griffin 1975: Griffin 1976: Dorsett 1977: Campbell 1978: Sims 1979: C. White 1980: Green 1981: Allen 1982: H. Walker 1983: Rozier 1984: Flutie 1985: Jackson 1986: Testaverde 1987: Brown 1988: Sanders 1989: Hagen 1990: Ismail 1991: Howard 1992: M. Jones 1993: Ward 1994: Salaam 1995: Frazier 1996: Wuerffel 1997: Woodson 1998: Williams 1999: Dayne 2000: Weinke 2001: Crouch 2002: Palmer 2003: J. White 2004: A. Smith 2005: Bush 2006: T. Smith 2007: Tebow 2008: Harrell, Bradford & McCoy 2009: Ingram 2010: Newton

v d e Chic Harley Award winners 1955: Cassady 1956: Hornung 1957: Crow 1958: Cannon 1959: Cannon 1960: Bellino 1961: E. Davis 1962: Baker 1963: Staubach 1964: Timberlake 1965: Garrett 1966: Spurrier 1967: Beban 1968: Simpson 1969: Owens 1970: Plunkett 1971: Sullivan 1972: Rodgers 1973: Cappelletti 1974: Griffin 1975: Griffin 1976: Dorsett 1977: Campbell 1978: Sims 1979: C. White 1980: Rogers 1981: Allen 1982: H. Walker 1983: Rozier 1984: Flutie 1985: Jackson 1986: Harbaugh 1987: Spielman 1988: Sanders 1989: Thompson 1990: Lewis 1991: Howard 1992: Torretta 1993: Ward 1994: Salaam 1995: George 1996: Davis 1997: Woodson 1998: Williams 1999: Dayne 2000: Heupel 2001: Dorsey 2002: Dorsey 2003: Fitzgerald 2004: Bush 2005: Bush 2006: T. Smith 2007: Tebow 2008: Bradford 2009: McCoy 2010: Newton

v d e 1989 NFL Draft First Round Selections Troy Aikman · Tony Mandarich · Barry Sanders · Derrick Thomas · Deion Sanders · Broderick Thomas · Tim Worley · Burt Grossman · Sammie Smith · Eric Hill · Donnell Woolford · Trace Armstrong · Eric Metcalf · Jeff Lageman · Andy Heck · Hart Lee Dykes · Joe Wolf · Brian Williams · Wayne Martin · Steve Atwater · Bill Hawkins · Andre Rison · David Williams · Tom Ricketts · Louis Oliver · Cleveland Gary · Shawn Collins · Keith DeLong Draft years 70  · 71  · 72  · 73  · 74  · 75  · 76  · 77  · 78  · 79  · 80  · 81  · 82  · 83  · 84  · 85  · 86  · 87  · 88  · 89  · 90  · 91  · 92  · 93  · 94  · 95  · 96  · 97  · 98  · 99  · 00  · 01  · 02  · 03  · 04  · 05  · 06  · 07  · 08  · 09  · 10  · 11

v d e Detroit Lions first-round draft picks Wagner • Cardwell • Wojciechowicz • Pingel • Nave • Thomason • Westfall • Sinkwich • Graham • Szymanski • Dellastatious • Davis • Tittle • Rauch • Hart • Watson • Sewell • Chapman • Middleton • Cassady • Glass • Karras • Pietrosante • Robinson • Hadl • D. Sanders • Beathard • Nowatzke • Farr • Landry • McCullouch • Owens • Bell • Orvis • Price • O'Neil • Boden • Hunter • Gaines • Bradley • Dorney • B. Sims • Nichols • J. Williams • J. Jones • Lewis • L. Brown • Long • R. Rogers • Blades • B. Sanders • Ware • Moore • Porcher • Morton • Elliss • R. Brown • Hartings • Westbrook • Fair • Claiborne • Gibson • McDougle • Backus • Harrington • C. Rogers • R. Williams • K. Jones • M. Williams • E. Sims • Johnson • Cherilus • Stafford • Pettigrew • Suh • Best • Fairley AFC East: BUF  · MIA  · NE  · NYJ • North: BAL  · CIN  · CLE  · PIT • South: HOU  · IND  · JAC  · TEN • West: DEN  · KC  · OAK  · SD NFC East: DAL  · NYG  · PHI  · WAS • North: CHI  · DET  · GB  · MIN • South: ATL  · CAR  · NO  · TB • West: ARI  · STL  · SF  · SEA

v d e 1990 AP NFL All-Pro Team Offense: QB Joe Montana | QB Randall Cunningham | QB Warren Moon | RB Thurman Thomas | RB Barry Sanders | WR Jerry Rice | WR Andre Rison | TE Keith Jackson OT Jim Lachey | OT Anthony Muñoz | OT John Alt | G Bruce Matthews | G Steve Wisniewski | G Randall McDaniel | G Mark Bortz | C Kent Hull Defense: DE Bruce Smith | DE Reggie White | DE Greg Townsend | DT Michael Dean Perry | DT Ray Childress | DT Jerome Brown | DT Dan Saleaumua | OLB Derrick Thomas | OLB Charles Haley | OLB Darryl Talley | ILB Pepper Johnson | ILB John Offerdahl | CB Rod Woodson | CB Albert Lewis | CB Darrell Green | S Joey Browner | S Ronnie Lott | S Mark Carrier Special Teams P Sean Landeta | PK Nick Lowery | KR Mel Gray | PR Dave Meggett | PR Clarence Verdin | ST Reyna Thompson | ST Steve Tasker

v d e 1991 AP NFL All-Pro Team Offense: QB Jim Kelly | RB Thurman Thomas | RB Barry Sanders | WR Jerry Rice | WR Michael Irvin | WR Haywood Jeffires | WR Gary Clark | WR Andre Rison | TE Marv Cook OT Jim Lachey | OT Anthony Muñoz | OT Mike Kenn | OT Lomas Brown | G Mike Munchak | G Steve Wisniewski | G Randall McDaniel | C Kent Hull | C Bruce Matthews | C Don Mosebar Defense: DE Reggie White | DE Clyde Simmons | DT Michael Dean Perry | DT Ray Childress | DT Jerome Brown | DT Jerry Ball | OLB Derrick Thomas | OLB Pat Swilling | OLB Cornelius Bennett | OLB Seth Joyner | ILB Sam Mills | ILB Mike Singletary | ILB Al Smith | ILB Chris Spielman | ILB Junior Seau | ILB Jessie Tuggle | CB Deion Sanders | CB Cris Dishman | CB Darrell Green | S Steve Atwater | S Ronnie Lott | S Mark Carrier Special Teams P Jeff Gossett | PK Jeff Jaeger | PK Chip Lohmiller | PK Pete Stoyanovich | KR/PR Mel Gray | ST Steve Tasker

v d e 1999 Pro Bowl NFC starters Offense QB Steve Young | RB Barry Sanders | FB Mike Alstott | WR Randy Moss | WR Antonio Freeman | TE Mark Chmura OT Larry Allen | OT Willie Roaf | G Randall McDaniel | G Kevin Gogan | C Jeff Christy Defense DE Reggie White | DE Michael Strahan | DT John Randle | DT Warren Sapp OLB Derrick Brooks | OLB Kevin Greene | ILB Jessie Tuggle CB Deion Sanders | CB Ray Buchanan | FS Eugene Robinson | SS LeRoy Butler Special Teams P Matt Turk | K Gary Anderson | KR Roell Preston | ST Michael Bates

v d e National Football League | NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team Brett Favre | John Elway | Barry Sanders | Emmitt Smith | Terrell Davis | Thurman Thomas | Cris Carter | Jerry Rice | Tim Brown | Michael Irvin | Shannon Sharpe | Ben Coates | Willie Roaf | Gary Zimmerman | Tony Boselli | Richmond Webb | Bruce Matthews | Randall McDaniel | Larry Allen | Steve Wisniewski | Dermontti Dawson | Mark Stepnoski | Bruce Smith | Reggie White | Chris Doleman | Neil Smith | Cortez Kennedy | John Randle | Warren Sapp | Bryant Young | Kevin Greene | Junior Seau | Derrick Thomas | Cornelius Bennett | Hardy Nickerson | Levon Kirkland | Deion Sanders | Rod Woodson | Darrell Green | Aeneas Williams | Steve Atwater | LeRoy Butler | Carnell Lake | Ronnie Lott | Darren Bennett | Sean Landeta | Morten Andersen | Gary Anderson | Mel Gray | Michael Bates | Bill Parcells | Marv Levy

v d e NFL MVP Award from the Associated Press 1957: J. Brown 1958: J. Brown 1959: Unitas 1960: Not Awarded 1961: Hornung 1962: J. Taylor 1963: Tittle 1964: Unitas 1965: J. Brown 1966: Starr 1967: Unitas 1968: Morrall 1969: Gabriel 1970: Brodie 1971: Page 1972: L. Brown 1973: Simpson 1974: Stabler 1975: Tarkenton 1976: Jones 1977: Payton 1978: Bradshaw 1979: Campbell 1980: Sipe 1981: Anderson 1982: Moseley 1983: Theismann 1984: Marino 1985: Allen 1986: L. Taylor 1987: Elway 1988: Esiason 1989: Montana 1990: Montana 1991: Thomas 1992: Young 1993: Smith 1994: Young 1995: Favre 1996: Favre 1997: Favre & Sanders 1998: Davis 1999: Warner 2000: Faulk 2001: Warner 2002: Gannon 2003: Manning & McNair 2004: Manning 2005: Alexander 2006: Tomlinson 2007: Brady 2008: Manning 2009: Manning 2010: Brady

v d e NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award from the Associated Press 1972: Brown 1973: Simpson 1974: Stabler 1975: Tarkenton 1976: Jones 1977: Payton 1978: Campbell 1979: Campbell 1980: Campbell 1981: Anderson 1982: Fouts 1983: Theismann 1984: Marino 1985: Allen 1986: Dickerson 1987: Rice 1988: Craig 1989: Montana 1990: Moon 1991: Thomas 1992: Young 1993: Rice 1994: Sanders 1995: Favre 1996: Davis 1997: Sanders 1998: Davis 1999: Faulk 2000: Faulk 2001: Faulk 2002: Holmes 2003: Lewis 2004: Manning 2005: Alexander 2006: Tomlinson 2007: Brady 2008: Brees 2009: Johnson 2010: Brady

v d e NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award from the Associated Press 1967: Farr 1968: McCullouch 1969: Hill 1970: Shaw 1971: Brockington 1972: Harris 1973: Foreman 1974: Woods 1975: M. Thomas 1976: White 1977: Dorsett 1978: Campbell 1979: O. Anderson 1980: Sims 1981: Rogers 1982: Allen 1983: Dickerson 1984: Lipps 1985: Brown 1986: Mayes 1987: Stradford 1988: Stephens 1989: Sanders 1990: Smith 1991: Russell 1992: Pickens 1993: Bettis 1994: Faulk 1995: Martin 1996: George 1997: Dunn 1998: Moss 1999: James 2000: M. Anderson 2001: A. Thomas 2002: Portis 2003: Boldin 2004: Roethlisberger 2005: Williams 2006: Young 2007: Peterson 2008: Ryan 2009: Harvin 2010: Bradford

v d e Bert Bell Award winners 1959: Unitas 1960: Van Brocklin 1961: Hornung 1962: Robustelli 1963: J. Brown 1964: Unitas 1965: Retzlaff 1966: Meredith 1967: Unitas 1968: Kelly 1969: Gabriel 1970: Blanda 1971: Staubach 1972: L. Brown 1973: Simpson 1974: Olsen 1975: Tarkenton 1976: Stabler 1977: Griese 1978: Bradshaw 1979: Campbell 1980: Jaworski 1981: Anderson 1982: Theismann 1983: Riggins 1984: Marino 1985: Payton 1986: Taylor 1987: Rice 1988: Cunningham 1989: Montana 1990: Cunningham 1991: Sanders 1992: Young 1993: Smith 1994: Young 1995: Favre 1996: Favre 1997: Sanders 1998: Cunningham 1999: Warner 2000: Gannon 2001: Faulk 2002: Gannon 2003: Manning 2004: Manning 2005: Alexander 2006: Tomlinson 2007: Brady 2008: Peterson 2009: Brees 2010: Vick

v d e 10,000 Rushing Yards Club Emmitt Smith Walter Payton Barry Sanders Curtis Martin LaDainian Tomlinson Jerome Bettis Eric Dickerson Tony Dorsett Jim Brown Marshall Faulk Edgerrin James Marcus Allen Franco Harris Thurman Thomas Fred Taylor John Riggins Corey Dillon O. J. Simpson Warrick Dunn Ricky Watters Jamal Lewis Thomas Jones Tiki Barber Eddie George Ottis Anderson Ricky Williams Italics denotes active player

v d e National Football League running backs with 2,000 rushing yards in a single season 1973: O. J. Simpson 1984: Eric Dickerson 1997: Barry Sanders 1998: Terrell Davis 2003: Jamal Lewis 2009: Chris Johnson

v d e Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004 Bob Brown • Carl Eller • John Elway • Barry Sanders

v d e Madden NFL cover athletes English versions '99: Garrison Hearst '00: Barry Sanders / Dorsey Levens '01: Eddie George '02: Daunte Culpepper '03: Marshall Faulk '04: Michael Vick '05: Ray Lewis '06: Donovan McNabb '07: Shaun Alexander '08: Vince Young '09: Brett Favre '10: Troy Polamalu & Larry Fitzgerald '11: Drew Brees '12: Peyton Hillis Spanish versions '08: Luis Castillo '09: Roberto Garza

Persondata
Name	Sanders, Barry
Alternative names	Sanders, Barry David; Sanders, Barry D.
Short description	All-American college football player, professional football player, running back, Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Fame member
Date of birth	July 16, 1968
Place of birth	Wichita, Kansas, United States
Date of death
Place of death

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