Apparently Barry just retired because he said "The desire for me to exit the game is stronger than my desire to stay in" in other words he wasn't injured he just felt like leaving so he did.
Remember when Walter Payton died...that was right before Sander's decision to retire. I think he wanted to let Sweetness keep the yardage record just out of respect. He was only a solid year away from taking the record himself, but he had a big enough love and respect for Walter.
I mean during his time the lions were kinda mediocre. They were mediocre enough to get 3 straight winning seasons one time but probably because of Barry.
Lions wasted the best running back ever in Sanders and the best receiver in Megatron. Plus they were never on local tv because they could never fill the Superdome and the games were blacked out. I was sick of watching Buffalo Bills games.
Not only is he the greatest of all time, but he ran with a style that will probably never be seen in the sport again. He had good speed and he could stop and start on a dime. He also had a sixth sense for detecting tacklers and avoiding them. He was short and he had tree trunks for legs, which made him really tough to bring down. Thanks, Barry, for all of the great runs.
There was a ridiculous argument in the 90s whether Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith was the best. It wasn't really close, it only seemed to be because the networks made Dallas their number one game every weekend. If Barry would have been able to run behind Dallas' offensive line, he would have put up 3,000 yards in a single season.
#5 With Rodney Peete , the QB , holding up his hand for the score, was simply fantastic. He knew Barry would weave it in easily. My all time favorite is against the Cowboys in the 91 NFC championship game , as Barry comes through a scrum of about 8 players, and pops out for a touchdown.
He said that growing up as one of 14 children, a family favorite game was keep-away. That was his approach to football: he wasn't big or strong enough to knock down tacklers, so his strength was doing everything to keep from being touched at all - as if he was playing touch football. As you saw, though, he was plenty strong enough to break arm tackles. He kept from being injured by going to the ground or out of bounds when the big hit was coming. Except for a few leg sprains, he was healthy his whole career. His last season was with a new coach who wanted him to start following his blockers and run into traffic for shorter gains. He knew that was what shortened other running backs' careers. Emmitt Smith may hold the rushing title, but he took a pounding doing it, and retired shortly after. On a better team, Barry would have been able to play at least another five years, and hold insurmountable records.
Barry Sanders: 5'8" 203 libs. Low center of gravity, great balance. Ran a 4.4 at the combine. Incredible agility, change of direction, and acceleration out of the break. Retired after 10 years after a relatively injury-free career. Pretty much said he didn't want to play football anymore.
A decade of losing in Detroit will do that to you...It happened to Calvin Johnson fifteen years later. Matthew Stafford got out after twelve years though, and won a championship in sunny Southern California the very next year. lol.
10:06 is maybe my favorite Barry Sanders highlight.. Not because it's his best run but because his Quarterback throws his arms in the air in celebration while Barry is still 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage, 27 yards from the endzone and with a defender still in his path to the endzone. Says it all. Everyone knew no one defender had a chance to make the tackle.
Gale Sayers was a similar style runner. Hard to say which one was better. Especially since Sayers' career was cut short due to injuries. There is a really good movie about Gale Sayers and his backfield teammate, Brian Piccolo, "Called Brian's Song", starring Billy Dee Williams & James Caan. I think it'd be a really cool movie for you to check out. Lots of Gale Sayers highlights during the movie as well, so you can see the similarities. To give you an idea of how good he was, as a rookie in his first NFL season, he tied the all-time touchdown record with six in a single game. He also had 2,272 combined rushing, receiving and kick-return yards and 22 touchdowns, a record for a rookie.
People argue all day long over who is the best running back of all time, but the three names usually named are Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. One thing to keep in mind while watching Barry Sanders highlights is that some of those defensive players he embarrassed are Pro Bowl players, Super Bowl winners and a few Hall of Famers.
Barry was a joy to watch. Detroit wasn't my team but I always wanted him to have that ring... he just had that insane sideways "twitch" change in direction and an immediate acceleration forward after. Defenders couldn't visually process his pause or change in direction fast enough to react. He wasn't always the fastest on the field in straight line speed but he'd get tons of space that shouldn't have belonged to him because he could find that seam/angle and exploit what seemed like a sliver of daylight. Plus those tree trunks just dug into the turf. Billy Crystal, at Ali's Eulogy, said it is one thing to see clips and film of a great athlete... it is another to "live with them" in real time... to witness it unfold right in front of you. That stands for many of the athletes I've seen... Tyson in his young rage years, Kobe, Jordan, LT, and on and on across all sports... you hold your breath because you know at any moment lightning may strike.
Barry Sanders played 10 seasons for the Lions. He had 3,062 carries for 15,269 yards, 352 catches for 2,921 yards and scored 109 touchdowns. He was selected to play in 10 Pro Bowls. He won 2 Offensive Player of the Year awards, the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and 1 MVP award. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Dude mentioned would Barry Sanders be the best at 23. That would be his 3rd season in 1991, 1548 at 4.5 per tote, 17 scores and no fumbles. Led the Lions to their first postseason win since 1958. NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Yeah, he was the best running back.
"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." On the cusp of becoming the most prolific rusher in NFL history, Sanders walked away. I would take Barry Sanders or Walter Payton in their primes over anyone today. Both played most of their careers with horrible teams. At least Walter Payton had a super bowl victory at the end of his. Barry only had one playoff win in his 10 year career.
I agree with what others have said about him playing for a losing franchise probably wearing on his enjoyment of the game, but he was so fun to watch even with so many of those highlights against my favorite team (Vikings). He was one of a kind for sure.
Kabir Considers:. Barry was a naturally gifted runner. It was as if he had ball bearings in his hips, because he was so shifty. I remember Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis say that he doesn't watch Barry Sanders to learn how run better because he said that you can't learn to do what Barry does. In every sport some guys were born with such freakish ability that all you can do is marvel at them. Guys who have that ability and put in the work to hone that ability to a sharp edge can really separate themselves from mere mortals. Those guys move into the realm of being artist in action.
Comprehension is needed and respect has to be given.. the rb position is more then speed.. it vision , the ability to see the hole before its there, hips thats swivel, elusivness ability to make someone miss. Determination, heart, and much more u get it.. there is no rb in college or NFL thats better the BARRY SANDERS! GOD BLESSED HIS FEET AND HIPS AND EYES AND IQ HE WAS BEFORE HIS TIME! not taking anything from bo, but Barry sanders was the purest RB EVER AND IF U SEEN HIM U WERE BLESSED! No one will ever be able to pull off the things He did n game time situations..give the man His DUE!!
I like how Barry left on his own terms. Detroit practically begged him to come back. He was their team. I don’t believe anyone is as good as him in today’s game. His elusiveness was and is still unmatched. If you want to see a guy with tree-trunk legs, then you need to watch Earl Campbell. He wasn’t flashy, he just ran over and through people. The guy was an absolute beast on the field.
Barry retired what most people would say was early. Detroit had a brand new coach that was beginning to rebuild the team. He never played for personal records but for the team and the fans. He was on the verge of breaking Walter Payton's career rushing record but he didn't see a reason for it. If Detroit could've ever put a strong team together with a Super Bowl appearance he probably would've been the all time record holder. I had the pleasure to meet him a couple times and he's just a class act, grounded, and the perfect roll model for young kids. The Great Jim Brown has mad respect for how he played the game.
What Barry did with a football was different than anything the world had seen before. He didn’t hit holes-he created them. He didn’t run through defenses-he went around them. And just when you thought you had him, suddenly, he was gone. That same statement-suddenly gone-can be used to describe the way Barry’s career ended as well. After a record-setting season in 1997 and a 1998 year that put him within arm’s length of the all-time rushing record, held at the time by Walter Payton, Barry said, "No more." He retired, walking away from football forever at the age of 30. For the longest time, when asked about this decision, he declined to comment. But when the silence was finally broken, Barry told the world that it was his frustration with the losing mentality in Detroit and years of being the single, one and only weapon for an entire team had robbed him of his competitive spirit and love for the game. He did not have it in him, in his words, to continue to play only for the record. Some call it selfish; others say it's ridiculous-to walk away when you still have so much in the tank. I think it is admirable. I think it is selfless. I think it is what makes Barry Sanders the greatest of all time. And so today I pay him tribute. His numbers were astounding. His play was impressive, and his humility was unmatched. No one ever has, or ever will, play the game of football the way Barry -TORREY LAFFOON P.S. sorry for the long fucking comment but Barry is (along side Roy Jones Jr.) as my all time favorite sport icon. I couldn't have said it better so if you read it...then fuck you! get a life and stop wasting time on youtube;)
Highlight #20 one of the linebackers had taken one of Barry's shoes thats why he was caught. If you freeze it or slow it down you can see him running with one shoe
Barry is the greatest ever, period. You can put him in any Era of football and he'd be the best. He played on a terrible team. Everyone knew he was getting the ball, opposing teams stacked the box with extra defenders every play and they still couldn't stop him. He is the GOAT
Insane cheat-code level of lateral quickness. Instant ability to accelerate, or drag a leg to make defenders miss tackles. Absolutely incredible in ANY era. As far as running finesse is concerned, he has no peer.
Barry is the best ever. He played on bad teams where the opposing team knew he was getting the ball and still couldn't stop him. He asked force trade, but was denied so he retired. If you want to see speed, watch Chris Johnson highlights. I was lucky enough to watch him in college, because it was in my hometown.
Barry would be the best running back in the league. He's definitely the best running back of all time imo. Only played 10 years if he didn't retire would've had every rushing record
Funny story. Barry Sanders was a backup to Thurman Thomas (another hof running back that played for the Buffalo Bills) at Oklahoma State. That year before they played Oklahoma, their coach Barry Switzer, told the defensive players DO NOT HURT THURMAN, we don't want Barry in the game
Really enjoyed your reaction to Barry Legend! He was amazing...and to really appreciate him you have to factor in the fact that he did that to other world class athletes. Top 3 running backs all time: Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, and Walter Payton.
I may be biased being from Detroit, but I think Barry is the best RB in NFL history. He is without a doubt on the Mount Rushmore of RBs, but the way he ran, the elusiveness changed the game forever.
You're a rugby player I believe... therefore you can appreciate the running through tacklers... its not just his speed, it's his ability to shift side-side to elude tacklers and just explode. I've been an (American) football fan for over 50 years and Sanders is my all-time running back.
You should take a look at Terrell Davis highlights. Same era as Barry, and a total monster. Forgotten and under appreciated for the most part because an injury cut his career short. Still won two Super Bowls (back-to-back) with a Super Bowl MVP, though.
Man, I love Barry Sanders! But, check out a few others that were scary good Running Backs too!! Like Gayle Sayers, Earl Campbell, Larry Szonka (sp?), Eric Dickerson, OJ Simpson, and many more!!
There truly was never another runner like Barry Sanders. He was the best in college at Oklahoma State setting or breaking 34 NCAA records while also winning the Coveted Heisman Trophy in the late 1980s. Barry played 10 seasons in the NFL and was Pro bowler every season he played and at the time was only one season away from breaking the all time rushing record. Barry was only 5'8" tall but had acceleration , balance, vision, and an elusiveness like none other. He won the rushing record 4 times in the NFL (could have had 5 if he wanted it but chose to set on the bench letting Christian Okoye instead win it) was one of only a handful of runners to break 2,000 yards in a season and is the only runner playing for 10 seasons or more to average 1500 yards a season. He did this with a very weak Offensive line. Most people would say Barry Sanders is top 3 for overall best running back but #1 for best pure runner. Most people would also tell you if they got a free ticket to watch any player play it would be Barry Sanders because his electricity and elusiveness was unwordly. He had an amazing God given talent I have never seen reduplicated He was amazingly healthy throughout his career only sitting on the bench a few times. He left at the Pinnacle of his career due to burnout and never looked back. The most humble of men simply handing the ball to the ref after scoring each touchdown. He also was loyal playing for only the Detroit Lions for all 10 years. He left a legacy almost unmatched by any other player in the league.
During much of Barry's career, he played in an offensive system (the "run & shoot") which tried to spread the field with four wide receivers and no tight end or blocking back to support the offensive line with run blocking. If Mr. Sanders's superior field vision and ability to change direction mid-stride was featured in a system that was more balanced (like he was in college at Oklahoma State or Emmitt Smith had with the Dallas Cowboys), IMHO he definitely would have both the single season rushing record and career rushing record. Barry would get stacked up for multiple short gains or losses (due to not enough blockers) then bust a long run. While spectacular to watch when he busted loose, it was just as frustrating to watch him get repeatably smothered at no fault of his own. However, despite being a square peg of a player forced into a circle hole of an offensive system, he is only one of two players in NFL History to AVERAGE over FIVE yards per rush attempt for their career; The other is Jim Brown a player from the 1950s often considered the greatest football player regardless of position to ever play in the NFL.
"Barry Sanders or Marshawn Lynch?" 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣 You are the first and only one to ever ask that. I know you posted this a year ago but fun reaction man. But yeah, not even close between those two.
Barry's acceleration was indeed world class. 4 steps and he was full speed. 1 step and he could be back to no speed. edit: #41 was his very first NFL run from scrimmage.
The Lions didn't know how or wouldn't make the Trades and Drafts to build a team to support him; so after 10 years he just Quit, Retired... It could have set rushing yard records that could last forever... I think after a couple years he regretted his decision but his pride wouldn't let me make a come back... The Saddest thing was to see people that only averaged 1 to 2 yards per carry called the Best Running Back when they couldn't hold Barry Shoes...
Barry vs. Marshawn not even close Barry all day Marshawn was a power back only Barry could do it all and no one had his moves.......and Barry never got in trouble or had problems with his teamates, he was a quiet and humble Superstar!
He was rated the most elusive running back ever. I have a friend that was a the middle linebacker for KC in the 90 and I asked him "what was it like to tackle Berry Sanders" and he said, "you can't tackle him because he was too hard to grab". Now, check out Earl Campbell, Berry was elusive but Campbell was power.
I never thought 10 years was very short. The 90s were tougher football than now, and Detroit worked the hell out of him. They had no other choice, but I remember he was they only thing to talk about in regards to the Lions and pretty much the only thing putting points on the board. He did twice the work than most of his peers.
Kabir, I'm glad you found this video because I remember seeing your previous one and thinking that you aren't really seeing what Barry can do. Now you are. BTW, Barry wasn't that big , only 5'8" and 200lbs.
ATT YDS TD AVG 3062 15,269 99 5.0 Hieght 5'8" 203 lbs 40 yd time 4.37 Some of Barry's sport stats. And he played for 10 years. And his yards that he put up are still in the top 6, all time in the proes. And Barry would be one of if not the best RB in the Pros. He would still be a very relevant player in todays game.
In there primes there were IMO only 3 RB's that came close to Barry: Gayle Sayers, Jim Brown, and OJ Simpson...and yes, if Barry were a rookie today he'd be the best in the NFL.
Was a big Cowboys fan in the 90s but Barry would have over 20K career yards and a couple of seasons with over 2K yards if he had a offensive line like Emmitt Smith had. Unbelievable that he rushed for over 1K every season of his career and 2K once with that dismal Lions offense line.
Another interesting story of Barry's college career. Ok State was the only division 1 school to offer him a scholarship. Jimmy Johnson, the same coach that created the Dallas Cowboy dynasty in the '90s, was the coach at OSU. He hid Barry's high school tapes and no other schools had a chance to see how good he was. I think he may still have them hidden in a safe somewhere.
My wife (born and raised in Vietnam and came to the US IN 1993) knows a few NFL teams, a couple individuals she will see and know QB or coach but no names, but show her a clip and she knows “Barry” the only NFL related person she knows by name or by sight.
03:52 Barry Sanders retired early because he was bored playing football. The only reason Barry Sanders played football at all was because his dad forced him to do it.
Aside from his amazing abilities, Barry was right at the height which a player becomes harder to tackle. Barry is my number one, not only would be hold the NFL rushing records in about every category, had he not retired. As it was, Emmett Smith had to play for several years longer than he wanted, just to pass Barry's record, which I consider him to still hold.
I grew up in Detroit watching Barry play. If the owners had put a little money into building a team around him, instead of expecting him to carry the whole team, he could've been even better. As it is, he still is one of the best all-time
Barry was still healthy and very capable when he retired ,barring injury he could have had 2 or 3 more very good years . He wasn't super fast ,you see him get caught from behind often and even see linebackers gaining on him . What he was ,was super elusive with a great ability to see potential openings .
@@kaylee3933 lol .. Yes the new week 0 with a few games. I figured I'd keep it simple with the traditional week 1. You must be a serious CFB fan ! Love to see it ...
Barry's father thought that Jim Brown was the greatest running back ever. He'd tell Barry that all the time. Brown played for ten years and then retired healthy. He went on to do some acting and later became an activist. Yes, Barry was on a bad Lions team his whole career and his desire to play had waned in his last few years. I think part of him retiring after ten years was to please his father. Just my two cents. My top five best Backs ever: Walter Payton: The most versatile back to ever play the game. Elusive and strong. Barry Sanders: Ball bearings in his hips, knees and ankles. Most elusive ever and very quick. Jim Brown: Punishing. Bulled his way into the record books. Gale Sayers: The most beautiful running style I have ever seen. Injuries stopped him short of his potential. Eric Dickerson: Upright running style. Fast and hard to bring down. Peace
Hall of fame running back Curtis Martin said of Sanders (paraphrasing) “it can be 1923 or it can be 2-13 and Barry Sanders would be the best running back at any time”.
He retired, uninjured and at his very best at only 30 years old. His good friend held the all-time rushing yardage record but had gotten I'll and passed. In his very next game, without a doubt, he would have passed Walter Payton's record. If he had stayed to only 35, averaging over 1,000 per game for 16 games per year, his record would be unreliable. 5 years at 16 per year would be 90 more games. Over 1,000 per game and the frequent 1,500 or more, he would have passed his friend's record by well over 100,000 yards. But Walter died knowing he had the all time record. That's friendship.
Walter Payton is the greatest and Barry is right under him... Barry retired because of the organization... one of the best wide receivers ever also retired early because of the Lions organization as well... Still waiting to see you react to the 85 Bears!!!
Barry retired for multiple reasons. His dad’s favorite player only played 10 years. He didn’t want to break walters record. Retired right after his death. And the Lions!
To the question of "would Barry Sanders dominate in the current league?" I believe he would still be the best. Especially with all the new tackle rules. No horse collar tackle would've added far more yards and touchdowns for Sanders. Check out Derrick Henry though. Dudes a beast
There has been no player ever that can move like Barry Sanders. Truly one of a kind. His agility is unmatched.
Apparently Barry just retired because he said "The desire for me to exit the game is stronger than my desire to stay in" in other words he wasn't injured he just felt like leaving so he did.
And it had a lot to do with it becoming obvious the Lions had no interest in building a winning team.
@@mage1439 ya being the best player in the league (possibly all time at his position) with nothing around you has to do disheartening.
Two all-time great franchise players retired early with Sanders and “Megatron” Calvin Johnson rather than playing another season for the Lions.
I honestly think it was a bribe thing in my opinion could’ve been forced out the league with money.👀
Remember when Walter Payton died...that was right before Sander's decision to retire. I think he wanted to let Sweetness keep the yardage record just out of respect. He was only a solid year away from taking the record himself, but he had a big enough love and respect for Walter.
Barry accomplished everything he accomplished on one of the worst teams in the league, and also in only 10 years. The guy was a freak.
THE worst team.
I'm a lifelong Lions fan. I know how bad they were.
I mean during his time the lions were kinda mediocre. They were mediocre enough to get 3 straight winning seasons one time but probably because of Barry.
Lions wasted the best running back ever in Sanders and the best receiver in Megatron. Plus they were never on local tv because they could never fill the Superdome and the games were blacked out. I was sick of watching Buffalo Bills games.
@@donjackson5522 The Superdome is home to the Saints.
@@jacktumlinson1 he meant the silverdome
Not only is he the greatest of all time, but he ran with a style that will probably never be seen in the sport again. He had good speed and he could stop and start on a dime. He also had a sixth sense for detecting tacklers and avoiding them. He was short and he had tree trunks for legs, which made him really tough to bring down.
Thanks, Barry, for all of the great runs.
There was a ridiculous argument in the 90s whether Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith was the best. It wasn't really close, it only seemed to be because the networks made Dallas their number one game every weekend. If Barry would have been able to run behind Dallas' offensive line, he would have put up 3,000 yards in a single season.
Yeah, if Barry had that line he would’ve had all 3,000+ yard seasons
#5 With Rodney Peete , the QB , holding up his hand for the score, was simply fantastic. He knew Barry would weave it in easily. My all time favorite is against the Cowboys in the 91 NFC championship game , as Barry comes through a scrum of about 8 players, and pops out for a touchdown.
Barry cut back left to check on #96. He's kind that way.
He said that growing up as one of 14 children, a family favorite game was keep-away. That was his approach to football: he wasn't big or strong enough to knock down tacklers, so his strength was doing everything to keep from being touched at all - as if he was playing touch football. As you saw, though, he was plenty strong enough to break arm tackles. He kept from being injured by going to the ground or out of bounds when the big hit was coming. Except for a few leg sprains, he was healthy his whole career. His last season was with a new coach who wanted him to start following his blockers and run into traffic for shorter gains. He knew that was what shortened other running backs' careers. Emmitt Smith may hold the rushing title, but he took a pounding doing it, and retired shortly after. On a better team, Barry would have been able to play at least another five years, and hold insurmountable records.
Barry Sanders: 5'8" 203 libs. Low center of gravity, great balance. Ran a 4.4 at the combine. Incredible agility, change of direction, and acceleration out of the break. Retired after 10 years after a relatively injury-free career. Pretty much said he didn't want to play football anymore.
A decade of losing in Detroit will do that to you...It happened to Calvin Johnson fifteen years later. Matthew Stafford got out after twelve years though, and won a championship in sunny Southern California the very next year. lol.
@@ofallmyintention9496 why didn't he accept offers from other teams?
I saw Walter Payton, Emmitt and Barry live...
Barry Sanders is the greatest and it's stupid how NOT close it is
I grew up in Detroit in the 90's. What a time and place! Berry Sanders and The Red Wings Russian 5.
Thanks for the sweet nostalgia.
10:06 is maybe my favorite Barry Sanders highlight.. Not because it's his best run but because his Quarterback throws his arms in the air in celebration while Barry is still 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage, 27 yards from the endzone and with a defender still in his path to the endzone. Says it all. Everyone knew no one defender had a chance to make the tackle.
Gale Sayers was a similar style runner. Hard to say which one was better. Especially since Sayers' career was cut short due to injuries.
There is a really good movie about Gale Sayers and his backfield teammate, Brian Piccolo, "Called Brian's Song", starring Billy Dee Williams & James Caan. I think it'd be a really cool movie for you to check out. Lots of Gale Sayers highlights during the movie as well, so you can see the similarities. To give you an idea of how good he was, as a rookie in his first NFL season, he tied the all-time touchdown record with six in a single game. He also had 2,272 combined rushing, receiving and kick-return yards and 22 touchdowns, a record for a rookie.
People argue all day long over who is the best running back of all time, but the three names usually named are Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. One thing to keep in mind while watching Barry Sanders highlights is that some of those defensive players he embarrassed are Pro Bowl players, Super Bowl winners and a few Hall of Famers.
They used to spray their uniforms with Pam, a spray that was used to spray on skillets so nothing stuck
Barry Sanders is the greatest of all time!! Need I say he is also my favorite RB ever.
Barry was a joy to watch. Detroit wasn't my team but I always wanted him to have that ring... he just had that insane sideways "twitch" change in direction and an immediate acceleration forward after. Defenders couldn't visually process his pause or change in direction fast enough to react. He wasn't always the fastest on the field in straight line speed but he'd get tons of space that shouldn't have belonged to him because he could find that seam/angle and exploit what seemed like a sliver of daylight. Plus those tree trunks just dug into the turf.
Billy Crystal, at Ali's Eulogy, said it is one thing to see clips and film of a great athlete... it is another to "live with them" in real time... to witness it unfold right in front of you. That stands for many of the athletes I've seen... Tyson in his young rage years, Kobe, Jordan, LT, and on and on across all sports... you hold your breath because you know at any moment lightning may strike.
Barry Sanders played 10 seasons for the Lions. He had 3,062 carries for 15,269 yards, 352 catches for 2,921 yards and scored 109 touchdowns. He was selected to play in 10 Pro Bowls. He won 2 Offensive Player of the Year awards, the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and 1 MVP award. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Dude mentioned would Barry Sanders be the best at 23. That would be his 3rd season in 1991, 1548 at 4.5 per tote, 17 scores and no fumbles. Led the Lions to their first postseason win since 1958. NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Yeah, he was the best running back.
"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." On the cusp of becoming the most prolific rusher in NFL history, Sanders walked away.
I would take Barry Sanders or Walter Payton in their primes over anyone today. Both played most of their careers with horrible teams. At least Walter Payton had a super bowl victory at the end of his. Barry only had one playoff win in his 10 year career.
I agree with what others have said about him playing for a losing franchise probably wearing on his enjoyment of the game, but he was so fun to watch even with so many of those highlights against my favorite team (Vikings). He was one of a kind for sure.
Kabir Considers:. Barry was a naturally gifted runner. It was as if he had ball bearings in his hips, because he was so shifty. I remember Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis say that he doesn't watch Barry Sanders to learn how run better because he said that you can't learn to do what Barry does. In every sport some guys were born with such freakish ability that all you can do is marvel at them. Guys who have that ability and put in the work to hone that ability to a sharp edge can really separate themselves from mere mortals. Those guys move into the realm of being artist in action.
Comprehension is needed and respect has to be given.. the rb position is more then speed.. it vision , the ability to see the hole before its there, hips thats swivel, elusivness ability to make someone miss. Determination, heart, and much more u get it.. there is no rb in college or NFL thats better the BARRY SANDERS! GOD BLESSED HIS FEET AND HIPS AND EYES AND IQ HE WAS BEFORE HIS TIME! not taking anything from bo, but Barry sanders was the purest RB EVER AND IF U SEEN HIM U WERE BLESSED! No one will ever be able to pull off the things He did n game time situations..give the man His DUE!!
my personal top 3 are (in no particular order) Barry Sanders, Jim Brown and Gayle Sayers. Also of note; Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson
I remember two plays in particular that didn't make this list, where Barry had his shoe pulled off and ran for 80 yard touchdowns with one shoe.
I like how Barry left on his own terms. Detroit practically begged him to come back. He was their team. I don’t believe anyone is as good as him in today’s game. His elusiveness was and is still unmatched.
If you want to see a guy with tree-trunk legs, then you need to watch Earl Campbell. He wasn’t flashy, he just ran over and through people. The guy was an absolute beast on the field.
The two Sanders, Barry and Deon. My two favorites to watch of all time.
Barry retired what most people would say was early. Detroit had a brand new coach that was beginning to rebuild the team. He never played for personal records but for the team and the fans. He was on the verge of breaking Walter Payton's career rushing record but he didn't see a reason for it. If Detroit could've ever put a strong team together with a Super Bowl appearance he probably would've been the all time record holder. I had the pleasure to meet him a couple times and he's just a class act, grounded, and the perfect roll model for young kids. The Great Jim Brown has mad respect for how he played the game.
What Barry did with a football was different than anything the world had seen before.
He didn’t hit holes-he created them.
He didn’t run through defenses-he went around them.
And just when you thought you had him, suddenly, he was gone.
That same statement-suddenly gone-can be used to describe the way Barry’s career ended as well.
After a record-setting season in 1997 and a 1998 year that put him within arm’s length of the all-time rushing record, held at the time by Walter Payton, Barry said, "No more."
He retired, walking away from football forever at the age of 30.
For the longest time, when asked about this decision, he declined to comment.
But when the silence was finally broken, Barry told the world that it was his frustration with the losing mentality in Detroit and years of being the single, one and only weapon for an entire team had robbed him of his competitive spirit and love for the game.
He did not have it in him, in his words, to continue to play only for the record.
Some call it selfish; others say it's ridiculous-to walk away when you still have so much in the tank.
I think it is admirable.
I think it is selfless.
I think it is what makes Barry Sanders the greatest of all time.
And so today I pay him tribute.
His numbers were astounding.
His play was impressive, and his humility was unmatched.
No one ever has, or ever will, play the game of football the way Barry
-TORREY LAFFOON
P.S. sorry for the long fucking comment but Barry is (along side Roy Jones Jr.) as my all time favorite sport icon. I couldn't have said it better so if you read it...then fuck you! get a life and stop wasting time on youtube;)
Highlight #20 one of the linebackers had taken one of Barry's shoes thats why he was caught. If you freeze it or slow it down you can see him running with one shoe
01:22 Barry Sanders 40 YARD DASH 4.37s
Barry is the greatest ever, period. You can put him in any Era of football and he'd be the best. He played on a terrible team. Everyone knew he was getting the ball, opposing teams stacked the box with extra defenders every play and they still couldn't stop him. He is the GOAT
Great video per usual Kabir. Love the channel💯 I have a question. Do you use OBS or Stream lab while creating these reactions?
Insane cheat-code level of lateral quickness. Instant ability to accelerate, or drag a leg to make defenders miss tackles.
Absolutely incredible in ANY era. As far as running finesse is concerned, he has no peer.
Barry is the best ever. He played on bad teams where the opposing team knew he was getting the ball and still couldn't stop him. He asked force trade, but was denied so he retired.
If you want to see speed, watch Chris Johnson highlights. I was lucky enough to watch him in college, because it was in my hometown.
He's the GOAT of running backs!!
Barry would be the best running back in the league. He's definitely the best running back of all time imo. Only played 10 years if he didn't retire would've had every rushing record
Very few RBs have a 10-year career.
@@PoorMan972 we talking about the goats rn tho
Funny story. Barry Sanders was a backup to Thurman Thomas (another hof running back that played for the Buffalo Bills) at Oklahoma State. That year before they played Oklahoma, their coach Barry Switzer, told the defensive players DO NOT HURT THURMAN, we don't want Barry in the game
Really enjoyed your reaction to Barry Legend! He was amazing...and to really appreciate him you have to factor in the fact that he did that to other world class athletes. Top 3 running backs all time: Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, and Walter Payton.
My favorite. He rode the bench at OSU to Bills HOF er Thurman Thomas.
Different sports but I always thought the way Barry plays reminds me so much of the way kyrie plays basketball.
I may be biased being from Detroit, but I think Barry is the best RB in NFL history. He is without a doubt on the Mount Rushmore of RBs, but the way he ran, the elusiveness changed the game forever.
Barry Sanders ia an 'all-time great'. Marshawn Lynch was a 'pretty good for a little while'.
1) Jim Brown
2) Barry Sanders
3) Gale Sayers
I like your top three, but let me add Walter Payton and Eric Dickerson to round out your top five.
Well, that's MY top five.
:-)
KABIR LEARNS An NFL PLAY !
React to Football 101 Counter by weekly spiral 🏈👍
You're a rugby player I believe... therefore you can appreciate the running through tacklers... its not just his speed, it's his ability to shift side-side to elude tacklers and just explode. I've been an (American) football fan for over 50 years and Sanders is my all-time running back.
You should take a look at Terrell Davis highlights. Same era as Barry, and a total monster. Forgotten and under appreciated for the most part because an injury cut his career short. Still won two Super Bowls (back-to-back) with a Super Bowl MVP, though.
Man, I love Barry Sanders! But, check out a few others that were scary good Running Backs too!!
Like Gayle Sayers, Earl Campbell,
Larry Szonka (sp?), Eric Dickerson, OJ Simpson, and many more!!
Greatest running back ever imo
Barry Sanders and Megatron both retired in their prime from the Lions. Both all-time hall of fame greats.
There truly was never another runner like Barry Sanders. He was the best in college at Oklahoma State setting or breaking 34 NCAA records while also winning the Coveted Heisman Trophy in the late 1980s.
Barry played 10 seasons in the NFL and was Pro bowler every season he played and at the time was only one season away from breaking the all time rushing record. Barry was only 5'8" tall but had acceleration , balance, vision, and an elusiveness like none other. He won the rushing record 4 times in the NFL (could have had 5 if he wanted it but chose to set on the bench letting Christian Okoye instead win it) was one of only a handful of runners to break 2,000 yards in a season and is the only runner playing for 10 seasons or more to average 1500 yards a season. He did this with a very weak Offensive line. Most people would say Barry Sanders is top 3 for overall best running back but #1 for best pure runner. Most people would also tell you if they got a free ticket to watch any player play it would be Barry Sanders because his electricity and elusiveness was unwordly. He had an amazing God given talent I have never seen reduplicated He was amazingly healthy throughout his career only sitting on the bench a few times. He left at the Pinnacle of his career due to burnout and never looked back. The most humble of men simply handing the ball to the ref after scoring each touchdown. He also was loyal playing for only the Detroit Lions for all 10 years. He left a legacy almost unmatched by any other player in the league.
Barry was the most humble and quiet spoken human being I have ever seen. Think about that lol. Never celebrated, never cursed. Awesome man
During much of Barry's career, he played in an offensive system (the "run & shoot") which tried to spread the field with four wide receivers and no tight end or blocking back to support the offensive line with run blocking. If Mr. Sanders's superior field vision and ability to change direction mid-stride was featured in a system that was more balanced (like he was in college at Oklahoma State or Emmitt Smith had with the Dallas Cowboys), IMHO he definitely would have both the single season rushing record and career rushing record. Barry would get stacked up for multiple short gains or losses (due to not enough blockers) then bust a long run. While spectacular to watch when he busted loose, it was just as frustrating to watch him get repeatably smothered at no fault of his own. However, despite being a square peg of a player forced into a circle hole of an offensive system, he is only one of two players in NFL History to AVERAGE over FIVE yards per rush attempt for their career; The other is Jim Brown a player from the 1950s often considered the greatest football player regardless of position to ever play in the NFL.
"Barry Sanders or Marshawn Lynch?" 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣 You are the first and only one to ever ask that. I know you posted this a year ago but fun reaction man. But yeah, not even close between those two.
Barry's acceleration was indeed world class. 4 steps and he was full speed. 1 step and he could be back to no speed. edit: #41 was his very first NFL run from scrimmage.
I'd start Barry Sanders subbed only by Marshon Lynch.......Power and beauty running
Barry Sanders is my favorite football player ever!
The Lions didn't know how or wouldn't make the Trades and Drafts to build a team to support him; so after 10 years he just Quit, Retired... It could have set rushing yard records that could last forever... I think after a couple years he regretted his decision but his pride wouldn't let me make a come back...
The Saddest thing was to see people that only averaged 1 to 2 yards per carry called the Best Running Back when they couldn't hold Barry Shoes...
Barry vs. Marshawn not even close Barry all day Marshawn was a power back only Barry could do it all and no one had his moves.......and Barry never got in trouble or had problems with his teamates, he was a quiet and humble Superstar!
He was rated the most elusive running back ever. I have a friend that was a the middle linebacker for KC in the 90 and I asked him "what was it like to tackle Berry Sanders" and he said, "you can't tackle him because he was too hard to grab". Now, check out Earl Campbell, Berry was elusive but Campbell was power.
They should have invented a stat for number of defenders laying on the field after each run.
Marshal Faulk and Sanders had very similar running styles
I never thought 10 years was very short. The 90s were tougher football than now, and Detroit worked the hell out of him. They had no other choice, but I remember he was they only thing to talk about in regards to the Lions and pretty much the only thing putting points on the board. He did twice the work than most of his peers.
top 5 IMO
1. Barry Sanders
2. Walter Payton
3. Jim Brown
4.. Emmitt Smith
5. Eric Dickerson
Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith were some of the greatest modern running backs in NFL history. I liked them both. They were running machines.
My Dad said Jim Brown was he best but he also said Barry was the next best, I will go with Barry...
Kabir, I'm glad you found this video because I remember seeing your previous one and thinking that you aren't really seeing what Barry can do. Now you are. BTW, Barry wasn't that big , only 5'8" and 200lbs.
My top three Running
1) Barry Sanders
2) Walter Payton
3) Earl Campbell
ATT YDS TD AVG
3062 15,269 99 5.0
Hieght 5'8" 203 lbs 40 yd time 4.37
Some of Barry's sport stats. And he played for 10 years. And his yards that he put up are still in the top 6, all time in the proes.
And Barry would be one of if not the best RB in the Pros. He would still be a very relevant player in todays game.
In there primes there were IMO only 3 RB's that came close to Barry: Gayle Sayers, Jim Brown, and OJ Simpson...and yes, if Barry were a rookie today he'd be the best in the NFL.
Made Me Love the Lions ,For Better and Worse. Sometimes a lot of "Worse" But Barry is King Through all of it.
With all his great moves he had the ability to get to full speed almost instantly too.
Was a big Cowboys fan in the 90s but Barry would have over 20K career yards and a couple of seasons with over 2K yards if he had a offensive line like Emmitt Smith had. Unbelievable that he rushed for over 1K every season of his career and 2K once with that dismal Lions offense line.
Barry Sanders was the whole team
Another interesting story of Barry's college career. Ok State was the only division 1 school to offer him a scholarship. Jimmy Johnson, the same coach that created the Dallas Cowboy dynasty in the '90s, was the coach at OSU. He hid Barry's high school tapes and no other schools had a chance to see how good he was. I think he may still have them hidden in a safe somewhere.
He had offers from Tulsa and Iowa state
My wife (born and raised in Vietnam and came to the US IN 1993) knows a few NFL teams, a couple individuals she will see and know QB or coach but no names, but show her a clip and she knows “Barry” the only NFL related person she knows by name or by sight.
03:52 Barry Sanders retired early because he was bored playing football.
The only reason Barry Sanders played football at all was because his dad forced him to do it.
Playing for the Detroit Lions will make anyone choose early retirement. One of the most perennially underachieving sports team in history.
My three RBs are
1 Barry Sanders
2 Emmit Smith
3 Sweetness Walter Payton
Barry number 1.
As a Detroit Lions fan...Barry Sanders > any other running back.
Aside from his amazing abilities, Barry was right at the height which a player becomes harder to tackle. Barry is my number one, not only would be hold the NFL rushing records in about every category, had he not retired. As it was, Emmett Smith had to play for several years longer than he wanted, just to pass Barry's record, which I consider him to still hold.
I grew up in Detroit watching Barry play. If the owners had put a little money into building a team around him, instead of expecting him to carry the whole team, he could've been even better.
As it is, he still is one of the best all-time
Also, Marshawn Lynch was a power back, more heft than svelte. Sanders was smooth as silk when he ran. I’d take Barry any day of the week
That's a no-brainer. ML was a great back but Barry was on a whole different level.
Barry was still healthy and very capable when he retired ,barring injury he could have had 2 or 3 more very good years . He wasn't super fast ,you see him get caught from behind often and even see linebackers gaining on him . What he was ,was super elusive with a great ability to see potential openings .
Emmet Smith got most of his rushing yards running behind one of the best offensive lines of all time. Sanders' O-line was average in its best years.
He was never hurt. He just said “Im done”
Top 3 rbs
1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Payton
Thank you, Kabir, for your reaction to Barry Sanders's Best Plays Of All Time! *Unreal* Now, you can see why some people think he was the greatest.
Google Barrys colledge highlights he had numerous 400 yard games
I'm a Cleveland Browns fan, so it pains me to say this, but I believe BS is the best RB ever (with all due respect to Jim Brown!).
The College season starts Sat 3rd of Sept . With the NFL starting a week later.
No, it starts the 27th of August
@@kaylee3933 lol .. Yes the new week 0 with a few games. I figured I'd keep it simple with the traditional week 1.
You must be a serious CFB fan ! Love to see it ...
I'd like to see a comparison to Jim Brown's highlights. I love Sanders. Brown's are just as electrifying but different.
10 (Pro Bowl) seasons isn’t a short career.
Barry's father thought that Jim Brown was the greatest running back ever. He'd tell Barry that all the time. Brown played for ten years and then retired healthy. He went on to do some acting and later became an activist.
Yes, Barry was on a bad Lions team his whole career and his desire to play had waned in his last few years. I think part of him retiring after ten years was to please his father. Just my two cents.
My top five best Backs ever:
Walter Payton: The most versatile back to ever play the game. Elusive and strong.
Barry Sanders: Ball bearings in his hips, knees and ankles. Most elusive ever and very quick.
Jim Brown: Punishing. Bulled his way into the record books.
Gale Sayers: The most beautiful running style I have ever seen. Injuries stopped him short of his potential.
Eric Dickerson: Upright running style. Fast and hard to bring down.
Peace
Hall of fame running back Curtis Martin said of Sanders (paraphrasing) “it can be 1923 or it can be 2-13 and Barry Sanders would be the best running back at any time”.
#5 will always be my favorite run. You can see the qb (Rodney Peete, #9) put his hands up, signaling a touchdown, when Barry is at the 27yd line.
Barry best ever. Marshan is maybe top 20. he tetired early since played for a losing team year after year.
He retired, uninjured and at his very best at only 30 years old. His good friend held the all-time rushing yardage record but had gotten I'll and passed. In his very next game, without a doubt, he would have passed Walter Payton's record. If he had stayed to only 35, averaging over 1,000 per game for 16 games per year, his record would be unreliable.
5 years at 16 per year would be 90 more games. Over 1,000 per game and the frequent 1,500 or more, he would have passed his friend's record by well over 100,000 yards. But Walter died knowing he had the all time record. That's friendship.
Walter Payton is the greatest and Barry is right under him... Barry retired because of the organization... one of the best wide receivers ever also retired early because of the Lions organization as well... Still waiting to see you react to the 85 Bears!!!
Barry retired for multiple reasons. His dad’s favorite player only played 10 years. He didn’t want to break walters record. Retired right after his death. And the Lions!
Him and Walter Payton were the best. Yea then u get into Marshawn,Emmit,Dickerson and couple others. Great video
To the question of "would Barry Sanders dominate in the current league?" I believe he would still be the best. Especially with all the new tackle rules. No horse collar tackle would've added far more yards and touchdowns for Sanders. Check out Derrick Henry though. Dudes a beast