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BARRY SANDERS

Class of 2004
Running Back >>> 5-9, 203
(Oklahoma State)
1989-1998 Detroit Lions

Barry David Sanders. . .Detroit's first-round draft pick, 1989. . .Electrifying running style. . .First player to rush for 1,000 yards his first 10 seasons. . .Led NFL in rushing four times. . .NFL's MVP, 1997. . .Gained 2,053 yards including record 14 straight 100-yard games, 1997. . .Career rushing record: 15,269 yards, 99 TDs. . .First- or second-team All-NFL each of his 10 seasons. . .Selected to 10 Pro Bowls. . .Born July 16, 1968, in Wichita, Kansas.

One of the game’s most electrifying runners, Barry Sanders rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions (1989-1998). He was the first running back ever to do so. The 1988 Heisman Trophy winner was also just the third person to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season, a feat he accomplished in 1997.

Sanders, after forgoing his senior season at Oklahoma State, made his pro debut just three days after signing with the Lions, who had made him their first-round pick and the third overall pick in the 1989 draft. He absolutely dazzled a Pontiac Silverdome crowd when he dashed for an 18-yard gain on his first carry as an NFL running back. But that was just the beginning. His 1,470 yards rushing that season, a-then Lions record, fell just 10 yards short of the league’s best for the year.

In 1990, Sanders, with 1,304 yards rushing, topped all ground gainers, something he would do again in 1994 (1,883 yards) and in 1996 (1,553 yards). His 44 receptions for 283 yards in 1994 gave him a combined 2,166 yards from scrimmage. The most impressive feat of his remarkable career, however, came in 1997, when he rushed for a league-best 2,053 yards and gained another 305 yards on 33 catches for an amazing 2,358 combined yards gained. That year, Sanders, who was named league Most Valuable Player, gained more than 100 yards rushing in an NFL record 14 consecutive regular season games.

Though not big by most standards, Sanders capitalized on his size by running low to the ground making him less of a target for would-be tacklers. His elusiveness and ability to reverse direction seemingly at will, often left defensive players grasping at air. “He makes you miss so bad, you kind of look up in the stands and wonder if anybody’s looking at you,” Atlanta Falcons cornerback D.J. Johnson once remarked. “You’ve got 60,000 people in there and you wonder if anyone saw you miss that tackle.”

A first- or second-team All-Pro ten consecutive seasons, Sanders became the first NFL running back to record five 1,500-yard rushing seasons, in addition to being the only back to do so in four consecutive seasons (1994-1997).

Selected to play in the Pro Bowl each of his 10 NFL seasons, Sanders held nearly every Lions’ rushing record and numerous all-time NFL records, at the time of his retirement.

			Rushing				Receiving
Year	Team	G	No.	Yds.	Avg.	TD	No.	Yds.	Avg.	TD	F
1989	Detroit	15	280	1470	5.3	14	24	282	11.8	0	10
1990	Detroit	16	255	1304	5.1	13	36	480	13.3	3	4
1991	Detroit	15	342	1548	4.5	16	41	307	7.5	1	5
1992	Detroit	16	312	1352	4.3	9	29	225	7.8	1	6
1993	Detroit	11	243	1115	4.6	3	36	205	5.7	0	3
1994	Detroit	16	331	1883	5.7	7	44	283	6.4	1	0
1995	Detroit	16	314	1500	4.8	11	48	398	8.3	1	3
1996	Detroit	16	307	1553	5.1	11	24	147	6.1	0	4
1997	Detroit	16	335	2053	6.1	11	33	305	9.2	3	3
1998	Detroit	16	343	1491	4.3	4	37	289	7.8	0	3
Career Total		153	3062	15,269	5.0	99	352	2921	8.3	10	41
Additional Career Statistics: Passing: 4-1-11, 1 INT; Kickoff Returns: 5-118

Championship Games

1991 NFC - Washington Redskins 41, Detroit Lions 10
Sanders started at running back. He had 11 rushes for 44 yards. He also had four receptions for 15 yards.

All-Pro: 1989 (AP, PFWA, SN, PW), 1990 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1991 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1993 (SN), 1994 (AP, PFWA, SN), 1995 (AP, PFWA, SN), 1996 (PFWA, SN), 1997 (AP, PFWA, SN)

All-Pro Second Team: 1989 (NEA), 1992 (AP, NEA), 1993 (AP), 1996 (AP), 1998 (AP)

All-NFC: 1989 (UPI, PW), 1990 (UPI, PW), 1991 (UPI, PW), 1992 (UPI, PW), 1994 (UPI, PW), 1995 (UPI, PW), 1996 (UPI, PW), 1997 (PW)

(10) - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994*, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999*

* Did not play

At time of his retirement following the 1998 season

[1st] Most Consecutive Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Rushing - 10
[1st] Most Games 100 or More Rushing Yards, Season - 14 (1997)
[1st] Most Consecutive Games 100 or More Rushing Yards, Season - 14 (1997)
[Tied for 1st] Most Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Rushing - 10
[2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 3,062
[2nd] Most Rushing Yards, Career - 15,269
[2nd] Most Rushing Yards, Season - 2,053 (1997)
[2nd] Most Game 100 or More Rushing Yards, Career - 76
[2nd] Most Combined Net Yards, Career - 18,308
[Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons Leading League in Rushing - 4 (1990, 1994, 1996, 1997)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Games 200 or More Rushing Yards, Career - 4
[3rd] Most Combined Net Yards Attempts, Career - 3,432
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League in Rushing - 2 (1996-1997)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Games 200 or More Rushing Yards, Season - 2 (1997)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Rookie Season - 14 (1989)

Team Records

Lions' records held by Sanders at the time of his retirement following the 1998 season

[1st] Most Yards Rushing, Career - 15,269
[1st] Most Yards Rushing, Season - 2,053 (1997)
[1st] Most Yards Rushing, Game - 237 (vs. Tampa Bay, Nov. 13, 1994)
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 3,062
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Season - 343 (1998)
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 40 (at Dallas, Sept. 19, 1994)
[1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career - 99
[1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season - 16 (1991)
[1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 4 (at Minnesota, Nov. 24, 1991)
[1st] Most Total Touchdowns, Career - 109
[1st] Most Total Touchdowns, Season - 17 (1991)
[Tied for 1st] Most Points, Game - 24 (at Minnesota, Nov. 24, 1991)
[Tied for 1st] Most Total Touchdowns, Game - 4 (at Minnesota, Nov. 24, 1991)
[2nd] Most Yards Rushing, Season - 1,883 (1994)
[2nd] Most Yards Rushing, Game - 220 (at Minnesota, Nov. 24, 1991)
[2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Season - 342 (1991)
[2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season - 14 (1989)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 3 (at Atlanta, Dec. 24, 1989; vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 29, 1991; vs. Cleveland, Oct. 8, 1995; vs. Chicago, Nov. 27, 1997; vs. Cincinnati, Sept. 12, 1998)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Total Touchdowns, Season - 16 (1990)
[Tied for 2nd] Longest Rushing Play - 85 (at Tampa Bay, Oct. 2, 1994)
[3rd] Most Yards Rushing, Season - 1,553 (1996)
[3rd] Most Yards Rushing, Game - 216 (vs. Indianapolis, Nov. 23, 1997)
[3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Season - 335 (1997)
[3rd] Longest Rushing Play - 84 (vs. Chicago Oct. 23, 1994)
[3rd] Most Receptions, Career - 352
[3rd] Most Points, Career - 654
[Tied for 3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 32 (vs. Miami, Sept. 15, 1991; at New England, Sept. 12, 1993)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season - 13 (1990)

Team Post-Season Records

[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 91
[1st] Most Yards Rushing, Career - 386
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 27 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 8, 1994)
[1st] Most Yards Rushing, Game - 169 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 8, 1994)
[3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 18 (vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 28, 1997)
[3rd] Most Receptions, Career - 21

NFL Statistical Championships

Rushing Leader: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997

Touchdown Leader: 1990, 1991

NFC Statistical Championships

Rushing Leader: 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997

Touchdown Leader: 1990, 1991, 1997

Team Statistical Championships

Rushing Leader: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

Scoring Leader: 1990, 1991

1989 Rookie of the Year (PFWA, NEA, SN)
1989 Offensive Rookie of the Year (AP, PW)
1991 MVP/Player of the Year (MX)
1994 Offensive MVP/Player of the Year (AP)
1997 MVP/Player of the Year (AP, PFWA, SN)
1997 Offensive MVP/Player of the Year (AP)
1990s All-Decade Team

Full Name: Barry Sanders

Birthdate: July 16, 1968

Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas

High School: North (Wichita, KS)