Barry Sanders

By Danny Vieyra

Name: Barry Sanders
Number: 20
Position: Running Back
Height: 5-8
Weight: 200
Born: July 16, 1968
College: Oklahoma State
Acquired: Draft - 1st '89
Years a Lion: 1989-98
Career Rushing Yards: 15,269
Career Touchdowns: 109 (99 Rushing)

Highlights

  • In 1988, Sanders won the Heisman Trophy while attending Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
  • In the 1989 draft, he was selected in the 1st round (3rd overall) by the Detroit Lions.
  • 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 2000 yards in a single season. He was named the NFL MVP.
  • Each of his 10 years from 1987through 1998 he was first- or second-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl.
  • Over his professional career, he rushed for at least 100 yards in 76 games, second only to Walter Payton's 77 games.
  • At retirement, Sanders' 15,269 career rushing yards placed him second behind Walter Payton's 16,726 yards.
  • His 18,190 career yards from scrimmage place him fourth on the all-time list.
  • On January 31, 2004 he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame..
  • On August 12, 2004 he was inducted to the Hall of Fame along with Bob Brown, Carl Eller, and John Elway

 

Biography

Barry Sanders was born on July 16, 1968. Wichita North High School was were he went to school. There he didnt even think about the runningback position, and since he stood only 5 feet 8 inches coaches didnt give him much thought. Yet his fourth game as a senior was when he found his true calling. His final seven games there he rushed an amazing 1,322 yards. Initally He went to Oklahoma State. There he won the Heisman Trophy when he was barely a junior. While at college he also set the all-time NCAA single season record with 2,628 rushing yards, 234 points scored and 39 touchdowns. On their first round draft pick, the Detroit Lions selected none other than Barry Sanders. Sanders spent his entire football carreer with the Lions which lasted 10 years. However his best NFL year, statistically, is 1997. Rushing for 2,053 yards he was

 

one of only three players to ever run for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. He was also the only person to rush for 1,500 yards 4 consecutive seasons. He also set the record for rushing 100 plus yards 14 straight games. He was named the leagues Most Valuble Player. His smaller size and quickness made him an effective running back. He was notorious for sometimes running the full width of the field to gain only a yard on a play then, on the next, suddenly breaking through a hole for a 60 yard gain. On July 29, 1999, at the age of 31, Sanders announced his retirement from pro football. He left football having gained 15,269 yards and 109 touchdowns. On August 8, 2004 Sanders became the third youngest player ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. Only Gale Sayers(34) and Jim Brown(35) were younger.

Career Stats

Rushing
Receiving
Year Team
G
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
1989 Detroit
15
280
1470
5.3
14
24
282
11.8
0
1990 Detroit
16
255
1304
5.1
13
36
480
13.3
3
1991 Detroit
15
342
1548
4.5
16
41
307
7.5
1
1992 Detroit
16
312
1352
4.3
9
29
225
7.8
1
1993 Detroit
11
243
1115
4.6
3
36
205
5.7
0
1994 Detroit
16
331
1883
5.7
7
44
283
6.4
1
1995 Detroit
16
314
1500
4.8
11
48
398
8.3
1
1996 Detroit
16
307
1553
5.1
11
24
147
6.1
0
1997 Detroit
16
335
2053
6.1
11
33
305
9.2
3
1998 Detroit
16
343
1491
4.3
4
37
289
7.8
0
Totals  
153
3062
15269
5
99
352
2921
8.3
10