Yep, great video for sure, though trying to pick Barry's 50 best runs is virtually impossible, but they did a great job. I've never seen a player who could have a 1 yard run that was more amazing than other RBs who might bust an 80 yard TD, and he had a few of those runs almost every game.
@@yassandfats Awesome! Looking forward to it...and this is coming from a Bears fan, who are rivals of the Lions, but, hey, you got to give credit where credit is due. Also, as a Bears fan, you should react to Walter Payton. One of the best to ever play the game.
the average running back has about 3 years in the NFL. Barry was far from average in so many ways. The position... It is Brutal. This video was a nice tribute, but did NOT really show you his elusiveness, his vision, and his incredible speed. I agree with the suggestion to watch his top 50.
@@AbA_DBAA23 could you imagine if the Green Bay Packers had chosen Barry instead of Tony Mandrich (spelling?)? The Packers would have had another dynasty period in my opinion.
Barry is my favorite offensive player of all time. He clowned people with his play but never showed anyone up. He was the ultimate gentleman and sportsman.
Barry was to good of a person to say it but the reason he left was because the Lions had a bad team around him and wouldn’t trade him so he was just tired of running himself into the ground and losing, not to mention the running back position is one of the hardest on your body and he didn’t want to ruin his body for the rest of his life for a team that couldn’t build a winner around him.
The Detroit Lions are historically bad and Barry retired early because he was frustrated that the team never became competitive and he wanted to preserve his health.
Packers passed up picking Barry and instead went with their worst first round pick ever, taking a steroid Induced lineman. Could you imagine Barry playing his ten years with the Packers?
How is he by far the best RB ever? When you talk about actual play on the field he is not in Emmitt's or Cambell's league. Don't mistake exciting for best ever. That would be like saying Lamar Jackson is better than Tom Brady.
Calvin was probably gonna get cut, had the highest wr salary & was declining fast because of bad ankles & knees. He could not cut sharp anymore & lost speed. He had not even practiced for 2 years.
I was at every home game at Oklahoma State in 1988. Seeing Sanders in person was ridiculous. There were times he fooled everybody-not just on the field! His humility made him a favorite to me even above his playing skills. #21 #GoPokes!
Many forget he did not play in the fourth quarters of many of those games or his numbers would have been even crazier. I was there for his first touch of the ball when he was a freshman and watched him take the opening kickoff of the season to the house! OU coach Barry Switzer even told his team that they did not want to go out and hurt Thurman Thomas because they did not want to see his replacement, Barry, take the role of first string running back!
@@PassHass7 Indeed, he rarely played in the 4th. Of the season opening kickoff TD- he did it 2 yrs in a row. I was at a cookout for the 2nd. The radio was on, I was out there. By the time everyone else came out w/ their food, it was 7-0. All I said was, "Sanders." :)
@@stevethomas8536 I feel fortunate to have personally watch Thruman and Barry in that era. Amazing to think what they might have been w/ even better teams. They were that good.
He was a basic humble dude. Still to this day. He gave two shits about fame. He got out on his own terms, with the money he needed for his family. Legend...
4:32 Just an FYI here Thurman Thomas was an incredible player in his own right, he lead the NFL in total yards a couple times, can't blame the coaches for starting him over Barry at this point.
@@darkur3665yes Barry and Thurman were tight teammates and are great friends even to this day. When Thurman was asked who the greatest running back was in the NFL when he was playing he said, "I can't say but I do know he went to Oklahoma State University."
@@KevinThomes it's hard to do good in the playoffs when you busted your @ss to get your team there! He didn't have a o-line and no quarterback! Then you got to look at when you are in the playoffs, you are going against the best of the best! Teams knew that Barry was the only thing that they had to stop! So, it was his team that didn't show up not Barry!
Y’all should check out Walter Payton aka “Sweetness”. He was not only one of the best running backs of all time but also one of the greatest football players of all time
As someone else pointed out the Detroit Lions ownership was never going to trade Barry to another team, but they also seemed to have an inability to put other talented players around him to help shoulder the load of carrying the team. They had other very good players, but never enough at one time to really push them over the top. I was never a Lions fan, but I was certainly a fan of Barry Sanders and it was just a pleasure to watch him play. One of the games great coaches who became the biggest announcer for games on TV, John Madden, said live on the air during one game he covered of the Lions "If you try and tackle Barry Sanders and you miss, just stay where you are and he will be back again shortly." Now those are not exactly the words he said, but because Barry was so known for his shiftiness and ability to make so many guys miss when they tried to tackle him he would spend as much time running from side to side on the field as he would running up the field. He was just such a joy to watch I don't think any fan of any other team disliked the man or did not enjoy watching him make entire teams miss him several times during one play. It was a very sad day when he retired, but very understandable as the Lions ownership was more concerned with temporary success of the wins he brought them than actually trying to get him help to bring even bigger wins in the playoffs. If the Lions had seriously committed to giving him help or trading him to another team he would have easily played 5 more years and retired with over 20,000 career rushing yards and that would be a record nobody would ever equal or break.
What's sad is many people don't put Barry Sanders in the GOAT Running Back conversation because he didn't have any Super Bowl rings. Him and Walter Payton were so electric on the field in their era. It was insane what Barry could do.
I watched Barry play a college game against the University of Nebraska in 1988. He carried the ball over thirty times (20 carries are a lot for a running back) and averaged over 11 yards per carry (more than double an output considered to be outstanding). He also scored six touchdowns - all this against a defense that was considered to be quite good. His team lost by three touchdowns. There's no direct analogy to association football. However, in terms of output, it's basically like scoring four goals, being the man of the match, and still losing 6-4. At the conclusion of the game, 78,000 Nebraska fans rose as one, and saluted Barry with a long round of applause. We all knew what we had witnessed. It was the single greatest display of sustained athleticism that I have ever seen. Astonishing.
I was attending OSU and watched that NU-OSU game on TV. Respect to Nebraska and their fans. They were the only team that soundly beat OSU that season (OU got a lucky win in the final regular season game when we dropped an easy TD pass on the last play of the game).
@@stevethomas8536 That game actually began something of a Nebraska tradition. At the conclusion of home games, regardless of the result, Husker fans salute the opposing team with a respectful round of applause. Whatever one's political sentiments (I am critical of both parties, and aggressively independent - thus objective), one must admit that Governor Walz is putting on a hell of a charm campaign. Being a Nebraskan myself, I know that the guy is genuinely genuine. My father (who was my hero), was born 13 miles from Tim Walz's birthplace. I literally know hundreds of Tim Walzes, affiliated with both parties.
He could easily have been a Packer as Green Bay had the second pick and took Tony Mandrich, the biggest bust of the first round ever. Barry in green and gold would have been something else.
Barry was a humble man, never wore gold or diamonds , would never spike the ball or celebrate at all but instead handed it to the referee. His Job meant he played football therefore he understood I am paid to do this. As opposed to most players of now in any sport tend to bring their personal agendas to work. Juxtaposed to people who must understand there a decorum between my personal representation in my personal life will not reflect upon my job. He is the most respected players in sports history. Not to mention his and his father’s ideology of his college career choices. The way he played his game in life is a much bigger factor than any rings or trophies would suggest a legacy rather than the true great person he is. Be blessed to have been around a real human being. #20 is the bar we all can reach relate and respect.
The picture @1:32 is North High in Wichita, KS. My dad's house was a couple blocks away and I played football on Barry Sanders Field as kid. Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sanders at an event where he was the featured speaker and I was a waiter. After he spoke and was getting ready to leave, he asked if I could please make him an Arnold Palmer (1/2 Sweet Tea/1/2 Lemonade) like we had been serving in the banquet room to take home and I was in awe. I said it would be my pleasure, excused myself and told him he was my favorite player growing up. He said "Sweetness" was his favorite. After I said I loved Walter "Sweetness" Payton too. He smiled and chatted with me for a couple of minutes. He is incredibly kind, soft-spoken and humble in person and is likely the best Running Back in NFL history, no matter what the record books say.
I live in Michigan and remember watching him play, he was the entire team, pretty much the only person to score for the Lions. He was such a kind, gentle, humble guy with unmatched talent. It's a shame how the Lions management treated him and what they said about him behind the scenes. I am not a spots fan, but he was a completely different caliber of person and just drew your attention like a magnet. Completely amazing person.
Barry Sanders was the most electrifying RB in NFL's History Heisman Trophy Winner in 1988 with Oklahoma State University Cowboys he was a 1st Round 3rd overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft selected by the Detroit Lions and he definitely was the heart and soul of the franchise that took him he didn't disappoint at all no matter what he's phenomenal back then in his Prime although I wish that he could've won at least one Super Bowl Championship in a different uniform of another NFL Team but still he ran for 2053 Yards in 1998 winning NFL's MVP but make no mistake about it Barry Sanders was truly one of a kind player clearly the G.O.A.T no doubt in my opinion
Still blows my mind that Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders shared a backfield in college. Two all time greats in college and NFL and I doubt we'll ever see two college RB teammates go on to dominate they way they did in the NFL and both end up in the College and NFL Hall Of Fame. Those two combined for nearly 35,000 scrimmage yards in the NFL and both are top 12 all time in career scrimmage yardage still.
You guys are smart and absolutely right. I watched him destroy teams over the years. But his team never pulled through to help. Very sad to see one of the greatest retire without a Superbowl. But 30 mil. Nothing to cry about. True Legend.
Being a BIG Lion's fan,I feel that Sanders would have, regardless of what team he played for, would have felt that he needed to carry the team on his shoulders. He is definitely one of a kind. Love From Michigan and it's a beautiful evening ❤️
The thing I find remarkable about Barry is he had those numbers while also being tackled behind the line of scrimmage more than anyone in NFL history. That is a reflection of how poor his offensive line was along with how good he was.
Undeserved calumny for the O-Line. It wasn't the O-Line that caused all those negative carries. It was Barry's running style. Where larger backs would crash into tacklers and fall forward for another couple of yards, Barry's stature dictated that he, instead, try to dodge tacklers, often stopping on a dime and retreating in the effort to evade them. When it worked, it was awesome to behold, like watching Houdini in pads and cleats. When it didn't, he lost yards. The Lions ran an offense its coach, Wayne Fontes, called the "Run and Shoot". Typically, multiple receivers ran downfield to draw the defense with them, leaving the field at the line of scrimmage down a defender or two, and opening things up for Barry to dart and dodge the remaining defenders. It posed big problems for defenses, who had to choose their poison. More often than not, they chose to try and corral Barry and let the receivers run free. A mediocre QB by the name of Scott Mitchell had some great seasons back then racking up passing yards while defenses focused on stopping Barry. The short clips and still photos really give you two no idea of how magical this guy was running the football. No Lions fans ever left their spot in front of the TV while Barry was in the backfield. He could turn what looked like a no-gain run into a long TD on any given play. If you have watched the NFL, you already know a lot of plays involve a running back hitting the middle of the line and getting piled upon after a short gain. Barry would run those same plays, bounce them to the outside, and find space to run free. His elusiveness was incredible, and despite being short, he had enormous thighs for a guy his size, a low center of gravity, and the ability to break a lot of tackles when hit in the thighs or hips. He also had the strongest and most flexible ankles I've ever seen on a football player, allowing for cuts and stops that baffled defenders whose instincts led them to expect less from an approaching runner. This was a man with superhuman skills.
@@Yesquire0imagine if Fontes run and shoot had a quarterback who had success in that system, like Jim Kelly? Or even Warren Moon? Jim Kelly ran the run and shoot for the Houston Gamblers if the USFL and when I worked with the Denver Gold of the USFL we had Vince Evans in our run and shoot. Any of the run and shoot quarterbacks I menta I've could have helped Barry win a Super Bowl in Detroit IMHO
It was the run and shoot offense. Then the spread which is not really any different. With everyone spread out it makes it easier for big plays. It does not make you more efficient on offense because you also get a lot of negative plays.
I live 15 minutes from Green Bay and am a die-hard Packers fan, but love Barry. I saw many of his games vs. the Packers in the 90's. You are exactly right @ 8:30 that we were trying to stop him as a top goal but even then it was very very difficult. There was ONE game where I think we (Packers) held him to -4 yards. That is very rare. Totally agree with your analysis about why he left btw. I so missed him.
Barry was so good that he made defensive stars look average. There has never been a more elusive runner. And he did all that with an average offensive line for most of his career. Many announcers said that he had the most exciting negative run plays they'd ever seen because very often there'd be a tackler in the backfield immediately after he got handed the ball and he'd nearly always make that guy miss. He almost never got tackled by the first guy. It usually took 3-4 guys to tackle him.
I went to OSU when he was there. I remember listening to a transistor radio while sitting in the stands.The announcer said, “if they’re smart, they’ll kick away from Barry Sanders. He’s the most dangerous kick returner in the nation.” We were like Barry who? Then he caught the ball and I can’t even tell you how many yards he returned for (30, 40, 50 yards), but he ran about 3x that far to get there… it was amazing. We now knew the name Barry Sanders. .. and followed him his entire career… (even though I didn’t like the Lions) 😉
I was at the Colvin Center annex one time Barry was there playing basketball. Between games he would stand flat footed and jump up and dunk the basketball (remember, he's 5'8")! He also challenged people who were there to keep him from getting from one baseline to the other without TOUCHING him....nobody won!
I saw Barry run from sideline to sideline and he "took it to the house"/ all of the way for a TD. To watch a "small guy" in action, checkout the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Love Barry as a player and a human being. It's crazy that most RBs that turn 30 are on the decline, but the opinions of many was he retired while still in his prime! I wasn't mad that he retired. I was sad I was never going to see him run again.
Sometimes people being small and undersized get underestimated. Like basketball player Spud Webb. He was told that he was too small to play college basketball let alone the NBA. Not only did he play college basketball, but he did make it to the NBA. He played for the Atlanta Hawks. He was only 5 foot 7 and could dunk the basketball. He even entered the NBA dunk contest one year and he won it.
Barry Sanders one of my favorite NFL players of all time Top 3 of all time for sure Thank you Yass and Fats Legendary video and Keep it up please Barry Sanders Top 50 NFL Runs please and please Again Keep it up🏆🐐🐐🎯🙏❤
It took them 30 yrs and their daughter forcing her way in to change it too. Barry is the reason im a lions fan and it has been a long struggle ever since. The fords truly didnt give af, until shelia took over
There is a game called Strat-O-Matic College Football, that has the 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys. I almost scare off opponents with the statement, "I've got Thurman Thomas at tailback, with Barry Sanders coming off the bench. It is worth noting on that team, Sanders returned all the punts *and* all the kickoffs...
I'm Born and raised around Detroit Michigan into this day Barry Sanders is still a huge part of the lions in TV commercial local appearances he's very well loved
@@fumesniff I told u he's still here. I know that cuz I'm here. Technically he lives in Bloomfield hills. It's where all Michigan billionaire and multimillionaire people live. He married a local Detroit news anchor in his kids went to school here. He's literally at every Lions game, on tv commercials. I'm confused are you trying to make a point because you're making my exact point
@@fumesniff really? Yeah he quietly retired because he got sick of the Lions losing and he loved Detroit the organization in the city. He remained here got married raised his kids and is still here attending games doing Coors light commercials all types of local stuff
@@fumesniff what a lot of people don't tell you about Detroit is that 10 mi from the city lies Oakland county. West Bloomfield in Bloomfield hills is called billionaires row. The house is there are bigger than houses you see in California. Executives for the big three flyer helicopters from their home to their offices in Dearborn and Detroit daily. I guess what I'm trying to say is Michigan and Detroit is more than just the city of Detroit.
Im a Detroit fan. A sportswriter for Detroit wanted to interview Barry, after a loss no less. Barry was down running wind sprints after the game, the writer hollered down and said he would meet him in the locker room. Still no Barry as the sports reporter found him pumping iron for another half an hour in the weight room. This was the dedication he had to have keep his body in that kind of shape. At 5'8" in had 34 inch thighs. Barry is the greatest back to ever play in the NFL.
When I was young I worked in a grocery store’s butchery department which Barry Sanders would frequent. He was always so unassuming and quiet. It was very obvious how he didn’t want any attention. Just a very humble and private person which is the opposite of so many NFL players.
Barry said what he said about retiring. But most people believe he quit football because he played for a team that didn’t demonstrate a desire to build a winning team around him. I regard him as the greatest running back ever. He is the GOAT at his position. It’s a shame he didn’t play for a team that wanted to win as much as he did.
IMO greatest running back of all time. He never had a decent offensive line with the Lions. Please watch what Barry does after he scores TD. Classy as %^&*!!!!!
His stats at Oklahoma State were obtained in 11 regular season games. To put that in perspective, players today play anywhere from 12-15 total games and nobody has touched his rushing record and only once has his TD record been challenged by a player who played in (I think) 13 games. For whatever reason, NCAA also now includes bowl game stats for players but has never gone back and added Sanders' 222 rushing yards and 5 TDs in his bowl game to his totals.
The change in the offense had a lot to do with his retirement. He had always played in a spread offense that put him in the open field with smaller defenders, where he could avoid being tackled hard on a regular basis. The new offense would have added two blockers for him, but it would also add two big linebackers to to the defense, who would be tackling him much harder every week. That doesn't sound fun late in a career where you need to be blazing fast, and not injured.
Being a lifetime Lion's fan and a huge Barry fan it put it in perspective when you talked about Messi. It would be like you watching me watching a video of him. Going to watch something about him as soon as I finish watching this.
I got to see Barry play at the Pontiac Silverdome against the Vikings the year the Vikings traded for Herschel Walker. So I got to see two of the most impactful running backs of their era play. October 22nd 1989.
Great reaction. This video was more story than actual jaw dropping moves. "Barry Sanders 50 Greatest Runs" video is all actual footage of him running, breaking ankles, dodging, weaving and scoring Touchdowns. This film will show his true greatness and humility. Please react to
Muggsy Bogues was 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) and Spud Webb 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) were NBA Greats, and household names in their time, though they didn't have the height of most playing basketball. There were other players around their size, but none quite as notable. Both could Dunk, too. In fact, Webb won the Dunk Contest in 1986. Check 'em out.
Barry is one of the most thrilling and dynamic running backs ever. You need to see footage of his highlights! I put him and Walter Payton is my two favorites all time. 3-) 13:10 That 34 million dollar contract Barry got is about what players are getting today. He was well ahead of the curve when it came to pay. Wow. 1:22 p.m.
Another great running back who was equal to Barry Sanders and who was also a great person was Walter Payton. Played for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987. He was also really really hard to tsckle. He did get to win a Super Bowl when the 1985 Bears dominated the NFL.
Back when Barry was in college, they didn’t even count “bowl game” stats. Today they do. If you add his bowl game stats he would still have all the records.
When Barry was a backup in college, opposing coaches would warn their players NOT to hurt Thurman Thomas, the starter. "We want to win. Don't hurt Thurman. If you hurt Thurman, and Barry Sanders plays, we're definitely going to lose." Crazy, but true.
You have to remember that there were literally tens of thousands of high senior Running Back more or less the exact same size as Barry Sanders, and he came from a state where the schools are so small you get really lopsided stats when an AVERAGE college level Athlete arises in that area. Size does matter, and when size also give measurables, size will always win, because you cannot teach six foot 3. The reason Barry Sanders retired was that he was tired of being stuck with the Lions, but wasn't the kind of person to take shots at people when he left.
So, I am from Kansas and Barry was from western Kansas..out in Wichita..our state’s largest city..but most remember someone who came before him..and this other guy had a lot of monikers..they gave this other guy lots of attention..Chicago Bears drafted…GALE SAYERS…who scored 6 touchdowns in the mud on a Sunday afternoon..had a short career.when banged up knees made him retire…and when Gale retired…he was immediately voted into the Hall of Fame..Gale was that good..with speed and power…
Watch some of their games to really see what Barry was capable of. I would recommend the later half of the 1994 season with Dave Kreig as QB. He had 15 years experience with real lifetime stats. He knew how to use Barry's skills to their fullest! All through Barry's time with the Lions they had the crappiest Quarterbacks in the NFL (with the exception of Dave Kreig second string backup for 1 season). You can watch these games on youtube.
When people send in request they need to add the exact video they want you guys to react too. Barry Had a Amazing short career, But what made him great was his highlight reels, his performance on the field is still unmatched till this day. Barry Saunders Top Ten Moves by NFL Films.
He had class and was loyal. Do you think all the teams in the nfl didnt offer him an epic amount of money? He started in detroit, and ended there. Dont let onfield overshadow what he did for those communities off field. Top notch man, across the board.
He was/still is my favorite running back I ever watched. He doesnt get mentioned enough when people talk about best running back. Lions were horrible. If he had sort of offensive line his stats would have been off the charts. Man he could move on a football field. I have strong memories of him spinning out of all sorts of tackles.
Born into a Raider family and been a fan ever since, but in recent years I have come to appreciate great players from other teams. Since I decided to respect other team's players, Barry is my favorite player of all time. That being said, I can never buy and wear his jersey since I'm die hard Raider fan. I might go to wearing his college team jersey, though.
You are correct the lions were cursed for a long time for the way they treat their star players. Calvin Johnson a GREAR wr had a similar experience in Detroit.
Barry was not huge but he had such a low center of gravity that he could change directions and leave defenders looking ridiculous trying to tackle him. I swear I even saw him change direction on a run when he was in the air…amazing RB!!!
Barry was so humble. He never showboated or dressed anyone down after a TD or long run. He would just flip the ball to the refs. True class!
Need to watch barry sanders top 50 runs.
Yep, great video for sure, though trying to pick Barry's 50 best runs is virtually impossible, but they did a great job. I've never seen a player who could have a 1 yard run that was more amazing than other RBs who might bust an 80 yard TD, and he had a few of those runs almost every game.
Most definitely!
Yep, it's a must watch.
Have to
Exactly, a 'reaction' vid to a summary of Barry Sanders' career is weak sauce ...
You should definitely react to "Barry Sanders Top 50 Most Ridiculous Plays of All-Time" as a follow up to this video.
Was gonna suggest the same video
Coming up soon 👍🏻
@@yassandfats Awesome! Looking forward to it...and this is coming from a Bears fan, who are rivals of the Lions, but, hey, you got to give credit where credit is due. Also, as a Bears fan, you should react to Walter Payton. One of the best to ever play the game.
the average running back has about 3 years in the NFL. Barry was far from average in so many ways. The position... It is Brutal. This video was a nice tribute, but did NOT really show you his elusiveness, his vision, and his incredible speed. I agree with the suggestion to watch his top 50.
@@AbA_DBAA23 could you imagine if the Green Bay Packers had chosen Barry instead of Tony Mandrich (spelling?)? The Packers would have had another dynasty period in my opinion.
Barry is my favorite offensive player of all time. He clowned people with his play but never showed anyone up. He was the ultimate gentleman and sportsman.
That’s what I loved about him. Never showboated in the end zone , just handed the ball to the ref.
Hell yes, this so much. Act like you've been there. One of my favorite things about him.
100% He lived "act like you have been there before".
Barry was to good of a person to say it but the reason he left was because the Lions had a bad team around him and wouldn’t trade him so he was just tired of running himself into the ground and losing, not to mention the running back position is one of the hardest on your body and he didn’t want to ruin his body for the rest of his life for a team that couldn’t build a winner around him.
110% Fact.... Barry Basically Did It Own His Own.
No.
Barry's 98 team went 5-11.
The next year they went 8-8 without him, and into the playoffs.
@@fairlanemuscle but why did they go into the playoffs? it was JUST because he left
The Detroit Lions are historically bad and Barry retired early because he was frustrated that the team never became competitive and he wanted to preserve his health.
Barry WAS the Lions Offense. The Lions have sucked for longer than I have been alive, and I am 61!
In Detroit, Barry Sanders has an 8-foot statue outside Gate B of Ford field where the Lions currently play.
I once seen that 40' painting of Barry on that building in downtown Detroit back in the 1990's.
Packer fan and Barry is the RB GOAT. Hated watching him chew us up, but loved watching him run. Dude is by far the best RB ever.
Packers passed up picking Barry and instead went with their worst first round pick ever, taking a steroid Induced lineman. Could you imagine Barry playing his ten years with the Packers?
@@PassHass7 Yeah Tony Mandrich, that dude cant even tie Barry's shoes. Wow, Packers organization was such a mess back then.
How is he by far the best RB ever? When you talk about actual play on the field he is not in Emmitt's or Cambell's league. Don't mistake exciting for best ever. That would be like saying Lamar Jackson is better than Tom Brady.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂@@KevinThomes
life long Detroit resident. Barry Sanders was my childhood hero. Love to see more and more people learn about the GOAT. Much love.
Most underrated running back in NFL history! Also, academically a stand out. He saw a future beyond his athletic abilities. Super smart!
Barry isn’t the only elite player to retire early from the Lions, Calvin Johnson being the other
A.K.A MEGATRON 😊
Don't forget Jim Brown
don't mention Calvin in the same breath as a legend like Barry Sanders. He nice but NO and we loved CJ at Ga Tech
@davidtullis2810
He said "for the Lions"
Calvin was probably gonna get cut, had the highest wr salary & was declining fast because of bad ankles & knees. He could not cut sharp anymore & lost speed. He had not even practiced for 2 years.
Instead of having someone describe how good Barry was, watch Barry Sanders 50 greatest runs on UA-cam.
It’s a crime to try to describe Barry sanders without highlights - his highlight film leaves no room for confusion.
I was at every home game at Oklahoma State in 1988. Seeing Sanders in person was ridiculous. There were times he fooled everybody-not just on the field! His humility made him a favorite to me even above his playing skills. #21 #GoPokes!
Many forget he did not play in the fourth quarters of many of those games or his numbers would have been even crazier. I was there for his first touch of the ball when he was a freshman and watched him take the opening kickoff of the season to the house!
OU coach Barry Switzer even told his team that they did not want to go out and hurt Thurman Thomas because they did not want to see his replacement, Barry, take the role of first string running back!
@@PassHass7 Indeed, he rarely played in the 4th. Of the season opening kickoff TD- he did it 2 yrs in a row. I was at a cookout for the 2nd. The radio was on, I was out there. By the time everyone else came out w/ their food, it was 7-0. All I said was, "Sanders." :)
Another OSU alumn here and I was in the stands for every home game as well. How lucky were we?!?!?!
@@stevethomas8536 I feel fortunate to have personally watch Thruman and Barry in that era. Amazing to think what they might have been w/ even better teams. They were that good.
Sanders along with Megatron have made their peace with the Lions and are working with them.
Best running back I’ve ever seen. He was amazing to watch.
In case nobody mentioned it here Thurman Thomas is also a HOF running back.
He was a basic humble dude. Still to this day. He gave two shits about fame. He got out on his own terms, with the money he needed for his family. Legend...
4:32 Just an FYI here Thurman Thomas was an incredible player in his own right, he lead the NFL in total yards a couple times, can't blame the coaches for starting him over Barry at this point.
Imagine having that as your 1-2 punch lol
Barry worshipped Thurman Thomas. And Walter Payton. Learned a lot from one and didn't want to break the others record of their was no team success.
@@darkur3665yes Barry and Thurman were tight teammates and are great friends even to this day. When Thurman was asked who the greatest running back was in the NFL when he was playing he said, "I can't say but I do know he went to Oklahoma State University."
@@darkur3665 Barry's team made the playoffs half of his career. Barry did not show up in the playoffs.
@@KevinThomes it's hard to do good in the playoffs when you busted your @ss to get your team there! He didn't have a o-line and no quarterback! Then you got to look at when you are in the playoffs, you are going against the best of the best! Teams knew that Barry was the only thing that they had to stop! So, it was his team that didn't show up not Barry!
Y’all should check out Walter Payton aka “Sweetness”. He was not only one of the best running backs of all time but also one of the greatest football players of all time
Walter Payton was my favorite player before Barry came along. Still will always love me some Sweetness.
Best all around RB in history
Do you know why they call him sweetness? I do!!
They stopped one game and checked Barry jersey to see if he put something slippery on him. He has the best highlight tape
As someone else pointed out the Detroit Lions ownership was never going to trade Barry to another team, but they also seemed to have an inability to put other talented players around him to help shoulder the load of carrying the team. They had other very good players, but never enough at one time to really push them over the top. I was never a Lions fan, but I was certainly a fan of Barry Sanders and it was just a pleasure to watch him play. One of the games great coaches who became the biggest announcer for games on TV, John Madden, said live on the air during one game he covered of the Lions "If you try and tackle Barry Sanders and you miss, just stay where you are and he will be back again shortly." Now those are not exactly the words he said, but because Barry was so known for his shiftiness and ability to make so many guys miss when they tried to tackle him he would spend as much time running from side to side on the field as he would running up the field. He was just such a joy to watch I don't think any fan of any other team disliked the man or did not enjoy watching him make entire teams miss him several times during one play. It was a very sad day when he retired, but very understandable as the Lions ownership was more concerned with temporary success of the wins he brought them than actually trying to get him help to bring even bigger wins in the playoffs. If the Lions had seriously committed to giving him help or trading him to another team he would have easily played 5 more years and retired with over 20,000 career rushing yards and that would be a record nobody would ever equal or break.
Players often try to mimic video game stuff on the field, video games try to mimic Barry Sanders.
Very good job you two. Im a Detroiter and having seen him play many times, he absolutely blew my mind.
What's sad is many people don't put Barry Sanders in the GOAT Running Back conversation because he didn't have any Super Bowl rings. Him and Walter Payton were so electric on the field in their era. It was insane what Barry could do.
He had a low center of gravity being so short. He made the vest players look silly.
He retired due to a disagreement with the Lions management. Boy was he fun to watch.
Muggsy Bogues was 5'3, Calvin Murphy was 5'9 and played in the NBA.
Let’s not forget Spud Webb
Eddie Gaedel was 3'7 and played Major League Baseball ⚾
😂❤😂
Earl Boykins was also 5'5
Allen Iverson was listed at 6’0”. He as more likely 5’11” without shoes.
I watched Barry play a college game against the University of Nebraska in 1988. He carried the ball over thirty times (20 carries are a lot for a running back) and averaged over 11 yards per carry (more than double an output considered to be outstanding). He also scored six touchdowns - all this against a defense that was considered to be quite good. His team lost by three touchdowns.
There's no direct analogy to association football. However, in terms of output, it's basically like scoring four goals, being the man of the match, and still losing 6-4. At the conclusion of the game, 78,000 Nebraska fans rose as one, and saluted Barry with a long round of applause. We all knew what we had witnessed.
It was the single greatest display of sustained athleticism that I have ever seen. Astonishing.
I was attending OSU and watched that NU-OSU game on TV. Respect to Nebraska and their fans. They were the only team that soundly beat OSU that season (OU got a lucky win in the final regular season game when we dropped an easy TD pass on the last play of the game).
@@stevethomas8536
That game actually began something of a Nebraska tradition. At the conclusion of home games, regardless of the result, Husker fans salute the opposing team with a respectful round of applause.
Whatever one's political sentiments (I am critical of both parties, and aggressively independent - thus objective), one must admit that Governor Walz is putting on a hell of a charm campaign. Being a Nebraskan myself, I know that the guy is genuinely genuine. My father (who was my hero), was born 13 miles from Tim Walz's birthplace. I literally know hundreds of Tim Walzes, affiliated with both parties.
You HAVE to watch his highlights to understand why this man is the absolute GOAT. No one will run the ball like this man did.
Barry Sanders was the bane of my American football life. Green Bay Packer fan here. He would destroy us.
He could easily have been a Packer as Green Bay had the second pick and took Tony Mandrich, the biggest bust of the first round ever. Barry in green and gold would have been something else.
Barry Sanders is my Favorite Running Back of all time in the NFL.
His son Barry J Sanders was good too. I like his son high school highlights.
He was thee best period! No one could run better than him! imagine if Barry Sanders was behind the Cowboys line of the 90's good lord almighty!
In my opinion the best running back I ever watched.
Barry was a humble man, never wore gold or diamonds , would never spike the ball or celebrate at all but instead handed it to the referee. His Job meant he played football therefore he understood I am paid to do this. As opposed to most players of now in any sport tend to bring their personal agendas to work. Juxtaposed to people who must understand there a decorum between my personal representation in my personal life will not reflect upon my job. He is the most respected players in sports history. Not to mention his and his father’s ideology of his college career choices. The way he played his game in life is a much bigger factor than any rings or trophies would suggest a legacy rather than the true great person he is. Be blessed to have been around a real human being. #20 is the bar we all can reach relate and respect.
The picture @1:32 is North High in Wichita, KS. My dad's house was a couple blocks away and I played football on Barry Sanders Field as kid. Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sanders at an event where he was the featured speaker and I was a waiter. After he spoke and was getting ready to leave, he asked if I could please make him an Arnold Palmer (1/2 Sweet Tea/1/2 Lemonade) like we had been serving in the banquet room to take home and I was in awe. I said it would be my pleasure, excused myself and told him he was my favorite player growing up. He said "Sweetness" was his favorite. After I said I loved Walter "Sweetness" Payton too. He smiled and chatted with me for a couple of minutes. He is incredibly kind, soft-spoken and humble in person and is likely the best Running Back in NFL history, no matter what the record books say.
❤
Now just imagine if Barry cared at all about records …. this video listed so many and he wasn’t even trying for them.
I live in Michigan and remember watching him play, he was the entire team, pretty much the only person to score for the Lions. He was such a kind, gentle, humble guy with unmatched talent. It's a shame how the Lions management treated him and what they said about him behind the scenes. I am not a spots fan, but he was a completely different caliber of person and just drew your attention like a magnet. Completely amazing person.
Barry Sanders was the most electrifying RB in NFL's History Heisman Trophy Winner in 1988 with Oklahoma State University Cowboys he was a 1st Round 3rd overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft selected by the Detroit Lions and he definitely was the heart and soul of the franchise that took him he didn't disappoint at all no matter what he's phenomenal back then in his Prime although I wish that he could've won at least one Super Bowl Championship in a different uniform of another NFL Team but still he ran for 2053 Yards in 1998 winning NFL's MVP but make no mistake about it Barry Sanders was truly one of a kind player clearly the G.O.A.T no doubt in my opinion
Still blows my mind that Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders shared a backfield in college. Two all time greats in college and NFL and I doubt we'll ever see two college RB teammates go on to dominate they way they did in the NFL and both end up in the College and NFL Hall Of Fame. Those two combined for nearly 35,000 scrimmage yards in the NFL and both are top 12 all time in career scrimmage yardage still.
You guys are smart and absolutely right. I watched him destroy teams over the years. But his team never pulled through to help. Very sad to see one of the greatest retire without a Superbowl. But 30 mil. Nothing to cry about. True Legend.
Sanders a Legend. D Town will always love him
Being a BIG Lion's fan,I feel that Sanders would have, regardless of what team he played for, would have felt that he needed to carry the team on his shoulders. He is definitely one of a kind. Love From Michigan and it's a beautiful evening ❤️
❤ from a A2 Michigander
I live in Windsor, Ontario. South Detroit. lol. Barry was something else!
The thing I find remarkable about Barry is he had those numbers while also being tackled behind the line of scrimmage more than anyone in NFL history. That is a reflection of how poor his offensive line was along with how good he was.
He had 3 all pro linemen and 10 year vets. Barry was not patient.
Undeserved calumny for the O-Line. It wasn't the O-Line that caused all those negative carries. It was Barry's running style. Where larger backs would crash into tacklers and fall forward for another couple of yards, Barry's stature dictated that he, instead, try to dodge tacklers, often stopping on a dime and retreating in the effort to evade them. When it worked, it was awesome to behold, like watching Houdini in pads and cleats. When it didn't, he lost yards.
The Lions ran an offense its coach, Wayne Fontes, called the "Run and Shoot". Typically, multiple receivers ran downfield to draw the defense with them, leaving the field at the line of scrimmage down a defender or two, and opening things up for Barry to dart and dodge the remaining defenders. It posed big problems for defenses, who had to choose their poison. More often than not, they chose to try and corral Barry and let the receivers run free. A mediocre QB by the name of Scott Mitchell had some great seasons back then racking up passing yards while defenses focused on stopping Barry.
The short clips and still photos really give you two no idea of how magical this guy was running the football. No Lions fans ever left their spot in front of the TV while Barry was in the backfield. He could turn what looked like a no-gain run into a long TD on any given play. If you have watched the NFL, you already know a lot of plays involve a running back hitting the middle of the line and getting piled upon after a short gain. Barry would run those same plays, bounce them to the outside, and find space to run free. His elusiveness was incredible, and despite being short, he had enormous thighs for a guy his size, a low center of gravity, and the ability to break a lot of tackles when hit in the thighs or hips. He also had the strongest and most flexible ankles I've ever seen on a football player, allowing for cuts and stops that baffled defenders whose instincts led them to expect less from an approaching runner.
This was a man with superhuman skills.
@@Yesquire0imagine if Fontes run and shoot had a quarterback who had success in that system, like Jim Kelly? Or even Warren Moon? Jim Kelly ran the run and shoot for the Houston Gamblers if the USFL and when I worked with the Denver Gold of the USFL we had Vince Evans in our run and shoot. Any of the run and shoot quarterbacks I menta I've could have helped Barry win a Super Bowl in Detroit IMHO
It was the run and shoot offense. Then the spread which is not really any different. With everyone spread out it makes it easier for big plays. It does not make you more efficient on offense because you also get a lot of negative plays.
I live 15 minutes from Green Bay and am a die-hard Packers fan, but love Barry. I saw many of his games vs. the Packers in the 90's. You are exactly right @ 8:30 that we were trying to stop him as a top goal but even then it was very very difficult. There was ONE game where I think we (Packers) held him to -4 yards. That is very rare. Totally agree with your analysis about why he left btw. I so missed him.
I’ve met Barry in person, he gives a lot of the credit to the War Pigs. Very humble and not a big fan of media and attention.
Its funny you mentioned it at the end. The Lions did put a Barry Sanders statue up just last season;
Barry was so good that he made defensive stars look average. There has never been a more elusive runner. And he did all that with an average offensive line for most of his career. Many announcers said that he had the most exciting negative run plays they'd ever seen because very often there'd be a tackler in the backfield immediately after he got handed the ball and he'd nearly always make that guy miss. He almost never got tackled by the first guy. It usually took 3-4 guys to tackle him.
The best ever, y’all should watch him in full motion!!
I went to OSU when he was there. I remember listening to a transistor radio while sitting in the stands.The announcer said, “if they’re smart, they’ll kick away from Barry Sanders. He’s the most dangerous kick returner in the nation.” We were like Barry who? Then he caught the ball and I can’t even tell you how many yards he returned for (30, 40, 50 yards), but he ran about 3x that far to get there… it was amazing. We now knew the name Barry Sanders. .. and followed him his entire career… (even though I didn’t like the Lions) 😉
I was at the Colvin Center annex one time Barry was there playing basketball. Between games he would stand flat footed and jump up and dunk the basketball (remember, he's 5'8")! He also challenged people who were there to keep him from getting from one baseline to the other without TOUCHING him....nobody won!
I saw Barry run from sideline to sideline and he "took it to the house"/ all of the way for a TD.
To watch a "small guy" in action, checkout the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
His highlights are a better example of his greatness.
Love Barry as a player and a human being. It's crazy that most RBs that turn 30 are on the decline, but the opinions of many was he retired while still in his prime! I wasn't mad that he retired. I was sad I was never going to see him run again.
Sometimes people being small and undersized get underestimated. Like basketball player Spud Webb. He was told that he was too small to play college basketball let alone the NBA. Not only did he play college basketball, but he did make it to the NBA. He played for the Atlanta Hawks. He was only 5 foot 7 and could dunk the basketball. He even entered the NBA dunk contest one year and he won it.
Barry Sanders one of my favorite NFL players of all time Top 3 of all time for sure Thank you Yass and Fats Legendary video and Keep it up please Barry Sanders Top 50 NFL Runs please and please Again Keep it up🏆🐐🐐🎯🙏❤
Barry Sanders deserved to play for a better team. The Lions refused to spend the money to build a better team around him.
It took them 30 yrs and their daughter forcing her way in to change it too. Barry is the reason im a lions fan and it has been a long struggle ever since. The fords truly didnt give af, until shelia took over
There is a game called Strat-O-Matic College Football, that has the 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys. I almost scare off opponents with the statement, "I've got Thurman Thomas at tailback, with Barry Sanders coming off the bench. It is worth noting on that team, Sanders returned all the punts *and* all the kickoffs...
I'm Born and raised around Detroit Michigan into this day Barry Sanders is still a huge part of the lions in TV commercial local appearances he's very well loved
i just looked him up to see if he went back to kansas. nope, still in detroit
@@fumesniff I told u he's still here. I know that cuz I'm here. Technically he lives in Bloomfield hills. It's where all Michigan billionaire and multimillionaire people live. He married a local Detroit news anchor in his kids went to school here. He's literally at every Lions game, on tv commercials. I'm confused are you trying to make a point because you're making my exact point
@@timtaylor7146 i didn't even know he was still alive. i googled it right before i saw ur comment.
@@fumesniff really? Yeah he quietly retired because he got sick of the Lions losing and he loved Detroit the organization in the city. He remained here got married raised his kids and is still here attending games doing Coors light commercials all types of local stuff
@@fumesniff what a lot of people don't tell you about Detroit is that 10 mi from the city lies Oakland county. West Bloomfield in Bloomfield hills is called billionaires row. The house is there are bigger than houses you see in California. Executives for the big three flyer helicopters from their home to their offices in Dearborn and Detroit daily. I guess what I'm trying to say is Michigan and Detroit is more than just the city of Detroit.
Im a Detroit fan. A sportswriter for Detroit wanted to interview Barry, after a loss no less. Barry was down running wind sprints after the game, the writer hollered down and said he would meet him in the locker room. Still no Barry as the sports reporter found him pumping iron for another half an hour in the weight room. This was the dedication he had to have keep his body in that kind of shape. At 5'8" in had 34 inch thighs. Barry is the greatest back to ever play in the NFL.
Hope you 2 got a chance to watch his runs, because it’s just amazing
When I was young I worked in a grocery store’s butchery department which Barry Sanders would frequent. He was always so unassuming and quiet. It was very obvious how he didn’t want any attention. Just a very humble and private person which is the opposite of so many NFL players.
Barry said what he said about retiring. But most people believe he quit football because he played for a team that didn’t demonstrate a desire to build a winning team around him. I regard him as the greatest running back ever. He is the GOAT at his position. It’s a shame he didn’t play for a team that wanted to win as much as he did.
IMO greatest running back of all time. He never had a decent offensive line with the Lions. Please watch what Barry does after he scores TD. Classy as %^&*!!!!!
His stats at Oklahoma State were obtained in 11 regular season games. To put that in perspective, players today play anywhere from 12-15 total games and nobody has touched his rushing record and only once has his TD record been challenged by a player who played in (I think) 13 games. For whatever reason, NCAA also now includes bowl game stats for players but has never gone back and added Sanders' 222 rushing yards and 5 TDs in his bowl game to his totals.
As someone who witnessed it, I will say that it was an absolute joy watching him play football.
The change in the offense had a lot to do with his retirement. He had always played in a spread offense that put him in the open field with smaller defenders, where he could avoid being tackled hard on a regular basis. The new offense would have added two blockers for him, but it would also add two big linebackers to to the defense, who would be tackling him much harder every week. That doesn't sound fun late in a career where you need to be blazing fast, and not injured.
Barry Sanders was the poster child for "putting the team on your shoulders ".
15:52 I grew up watching Barry. The ownerships and management of the Lions did not give the same effort. Please react to his 50 greatest plays video.
He wasn't pulling that team along all by himself he had his wide receiver Herman Moore who owned the league record for catches in a season as well
Rest In Piece to Hall Of Famer O.J. Simpson as the JUICE in 1973 he'd was the very first to have 2003 yards in a 14 game season🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 13:40
14 game season in 73, but still impressive and never duplicated by anyone else.
@@markmccollough1017Yes Absolutely
Being a lifetime Lion's fan and a huge Barry fan it put it in perspective when you talked about Messi. It would be like you watching me watching a video of him. Going to watch something about him as soon as I finish watching this.
I got to see Barry play at the Pontiac Silverdome against the Vikings the year the Vikings traded for Herschel Walker. So I got to see two of the most impactful running backs of their era play. October 22nd 1989.
Barry was not only a great football player he was also a class act!
Great reaction. This video was more story than actual jaw dropping moves. "Barry Sanders 50 Greatest Runs" video is all actual footage of him running, breaking ankles, dodging, weaving and scoring Touchdowns. This film will show his true greatness and humility. Please react to
Muggsy Bogues was 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) and Spud Webb 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) were NBA Greats, and household names in their time, though they didn't have the height of most playing basketball. There were other players around their size, but none quite as notable. Both could Dunk, too. In fact, Webb won the Dunk Contest in 1986. Check 'em out.
I've been telling you to watch Barry Sanders 50 greatest runs. Finally you're getting to him.
Barry is one of the most thrilling and dynamic running backs ever. You need to see footage of his highlights! I put him and Walter Payton is my two favorites all time. 3-)
13:10 That 34 million dollar contract Barry got is about what players are getting today. He was well ahead of the curve when it came to pay. Wow.
1:22 p.m.
Barry was UNREAL to watch as a kid and teen.
There's something different about seeing someone play live as it's happening. He's the goat and it's not close
He was simply amazing
Another great running back who was equal to Barry Sanders and who was also a great person was Walter Payton. Played for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987. He was also really really hard to tsckle. He did get to win a Super Bowl when the 1985 Bears dominated the NFL.
The fact that he came in replacing Billy Sims who in himself is a great running back says says it all
Back when Barry was in college, they didn’t even count “bowl game” stats. Today they do. If you add his bowl game stats he would still have all the records.
When Barry was a backup in college, opposing coaches would warn their players NOT to hurt Thurman Thomas, the starter. "We want to win. Don't hurt Thurman. If you hurt Thurman, and Barry Sanders plays, we're definitely going to lose." Crazy, but true.
You have to remember that there were literally tens of thousands of high senior Running Back more or less the exact same size as Barry Sanders, and he came from a state where the schools are so small you get really lopsided stats when an AVERAGE college level Athlete arises in that area. Size does matter, and when size also give measurables, size will always win, because you cannot teach six foot 3. The reason Barry Sanders retired was that he was tired of being stuck with the Lions, but wasn't the kind of person to take shots at people when he left.
Great update, Barry is still part of the Lions to this day. More in the office than on the field.
So, I am from Kansas and Barry was from western Kansas..out in Wichita..our state’s largest city..but most remember someone who came before him..and this other guy had a lot of monikers..they gave this other guy lots of attention..Chicago Bears drafted…GALE SAYERS…who scored 6 touchdowns in the mud on a Sunday afternoon..had a short career.when banged up knees made him retire…and when Gale retired…he was immediately voted into the Hall of Fame..Gale was that good..with speed and power…
He is the most humble athlete ever
"If there's a better runner, God has not made him yet" -Wayne Fontes, Detroit Lions Head Coach
Watch some of their games to really see what Barry was capable of. I would recommend the later half of the 1994 season with Dave Kreig as QB. He had 15 years experience with real lifetime stats. He knew how to use Barry's skills to their fullest! All through Barry's time with the Lions they had the crappiest Quarterbacks in the NFL (with the exception of Dave Kreig second string backup for 1 season). You can watch these games on youtube.
When people send in request they need to add the exact video they want you guys to react too. Barry Had a Amazing short career, But what made him great was his highlight reels, his performance on the field is still unmatched till this day. Barry Saunders Top Ten Moves by NFL Films.
I saw Barry against the Niners.
Dude was so fast that you had to watch the Jumbotron just to see him run.
He was that fast.
He had class and was loyal. Do you think all the teams in the nfl didnt offer him an epic amount of money? He started in detroit, and ended there. Dont let onfield overshadow what he did for those communities off field. Top notch man, across the board.
the greatest running back ever what he did with no offensives line
He was/still is my favorite running back I ever watched. He doesnt get mentioned enough when people talk about best running back. Lions were horrible. If he had sort of offensive line his stats would have been off the charts. Man he could move on a football field. I have strong memories of him spinning out of all sorts of tackles.
Born into a Raider family and been a fan ever since, but in recent years I have come to appreciate great players from other teams. Since I decided to respect other team's players, Barry is my favorite player of all time. That being said, I can never buy and wear his jersey since I'm die hard Raider fan. I might go to wearing his college team jersey, though.
sorry oakland,er la, er vega. wherever the lame team takes you is alright with me. broncos rule in yester year like raiders
Great choice.There is a video of how it shows the talent.I enjoy your podcast
Greatest RB ever! I was at that 1993 game against the Bears when he was injured.
You are correct the lions were cursed for a long time for the way they treat their star players. Calvin Johnson a GREAR wr had a similar experience in Detroit.
Barry was not huge but he had such a low center of gravity that he could change directions and leave defenders looking ridiculous trying to tackle him. I swear I even saw him change direction on a run when he was in the air…amazing RB!!!
From long time Vikings fans he was one best ive ever seen