He played his entire career in Detroit. He was also well known for the fact that he NEVER celebrated on field, not even the run that got him the record. I met him at a book-signing, he is truly one of the nicest, politest people you will ever meet.
I have no doubt but I will say that he might have if he was not the entire offensive attack in those years. He would have been slapping some high fives if he had went to the Super Bowl.
I remember him telling some younger players "Act like it's normal. Act like you're supposed to be there, and that you're gonna be there again real soon".
Great point. I always wondered how he would have been on a great offensive blocking team. Sanders made blocks for himself with his jukes in Detroit. Imagine him behind a top tier O-Line!
I was born and raised in Michigan, Lions fan for years. Make no mistake about it, BARRY WAS THE TEAM. What made him so great was the fact that the opposing teams KNEW he was getting the ball, all the time, almost every play, and he STILL CRUSHED THEM!
He played his entire pro career with Detroit, and retired after ten years or so while still in his prime. If memory serves, he wanted to preserve his health, and in spite of having an atrocious defensive team, he felt loyal to the team and the city.
@@patdrips3783 it was about competing MUCH MORE than about money. He wanted them to BUILD something around him so they could make & advance in the playoffs, with areas SOME CHANCE at a SB. He had seen what Dallas built around Emmitt for all those years & finally said why not me?
I grew up in Detroit and was a huge Barry fan. I was upset and disappointed when he retired. But I later discovered that he retired because he was tired of losing and he knew the Lions would never trade him. It's telling that 2 of the greatest players ever, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, both retired in the prime of their careers after realizing they had no chance of winning a championship with the Lions. Sad to say, but the Lions are one of the very worst teams in all of professional sports. The other Detroit teams (Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings) have had their ups and downs (but they've all won championships in my lifetime), but the Lions have been solidly mediocre for my entire life, and I'm now 51 years old...
I met Barry Sanders when I was in my twenties and working at a restaurant in Wichita, Kansas. I said I was a huge fan and tried to be polite and leave him alone, but he spent 10 minutes talking to me about football and was an incredibly soft-spoken, kind and humble man.
7:52 The thing is, he's not really finding the gaps, he's creating them. He uses his own movement to shift the defense's movement to create space and create gaps for himself. He was such a talented and FUN player to watch. His team sucked for most of his career. People would watch their games just to watch him.
Notice that when he’s tackled it’s usually by his collar. That tackle isn’t even legal in today’s game. Imagine if he had been on a decent team. Also, you won’t meet a guy with better character
@@joshuabolton3866 It's totally true man! In the game where he broke 2000 yards, the jets pulled some bs rule out of their asses that stated that they didn't have to run a play because the fans were cheering too loudly for Barry.
Emmitt Smith has the most yards for a RB, and his record is considered untouchable. Smith claims Barry would've had the record had he not retired early.
Barry would have also had the record if they had switched teams. I can't even imagine the production with that Cowboys O-Line, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irving.
Anyone who watched them both knows that Barry would have that record and it would be way out of reach. Remember how many years Smith hung on chasing the record when he was no good anymore? Remember his AZ Cardinals years? Probably not because he was awful, but he hung on to get the yards he needed to break the record.
@SUBverse Nation yeah, I'm not really trying to knock Smith. Mostly just trying to say that Barry is as close as he is despite retiring early. If he had stayed as long as Smith it would not even be conversation.
Barry is by far the best running back in NFL history. The fact that the three guys ahead of him on the all-time leader board played 3-6 years longer make it even more impressive.
@@klasyk1532 Don't get me wrong I think Bo had the talent but for Bo baseball came first. All those missed games I think would have cost him a shot at it.
Jim Brown might take issue with that statement lol I'm only kidding I love Barry. That he pulled off all that with trash Lions teams is also amazing. Could you imagine if he was playing for a team like Dallas at that time with Larry Allen blocking for him? He probably would have cleared 20k yards on his career
Yeah, he proved that height doesn't mean crap when it comes to skill. I'm sure he was given shite about his height by other American "blokes" in the NFL who were 6 ft to 7ft tall, yet he proved height "impaired" has advantages, and wow, did he play good. That is why he earned Legendary status in American football and inspired other Americans who have not fitted the towering status quo of Football height wise.
Some people are born with great speed and some people are born with great vision. He is one of the very few that was born with both. Great reaction to a great athlete.
After making these astonishing plays, Barry would politely hand the ball to the ref, go back to the bench, and fall asleep until it was his turn again, lol. No massive celebrations of himself needed. I grew up watching him in Detroit and he was pure class and respect, all the way around.
His dad taught him that. He told Barry, when you score, don’t celebrate, just act like you’ve been in the end zone before, just hand the ball to the ref. I LOVED that. Modern day celebrations look so stupid, embarrassing really.
@@davidorioli3870 lol it doesnt matter at the end of the day, everyone is gonna have their own opinion. I just think jim brown is the greatest of all time at the running back position. I can see why some could say barry though.
Hey guys. Thank you, thank you!! I have asked twice to see you do Barry and here he is. Barry did play his whole career with Detroit and is now an executive with the team. After years of being a top player in the league on a losing team (with no complaining), Barry went to management and made a request. Before he retired he wanted a chance to be on a title winning team and get to a Super Bowl. So he asked for a trade to a contender (Detroit used him for years to bring fans in etc, but never spent money to put a quality team around him). The team flatly refused to trade him and a year or two later he retired. He is 4th in rushing yardage all time. He could have played a few more seasons, but took a beating those last couple years with no other weapons to take some of the pressure off him. Barry says he learned those moves as a kid. The area he grew up in didn't have tackle football for kids, so he played flag football. He learned that being shifty was important to keep your flags from being pulled. Players in the NFL swore that he could change direction with both feet off the ground lol. Great player and a great guy in the community as well. You guys should check out a couple more great backs Gale Sayers and Walter Payton. Both were great running backs for the Chicago Bears. And oh yeah, Michael Vick is definitely a piece of sh#t and not worthy of anyone's time. He was an evasive runner but his position was quarterback. Maybe he should have played another position. Also the guy whose name you were trying to remember was Bill Romanowski. Great reaction here guys. Looking forward to more. Stay safe and well.
Well put. Class act to the end. I remember seeing video of him giving out gatorade or water to his teammates. Quote I often remember from who I've no clue. ' act like you've been there before' , that was barry, just politely hands the football off to the nearest official after a touchdown.
Detroit actually had pretty atrocious offensive lines for run blocking, that’s part of what makes Barry the best ever. He managed to do incredible things in spite of the quality of team around him.
@@tupac1971ever No, actually the record was set by the Lions just a few years ago; 16 losses!!! They were already for years, but that just proved it for the world!
10:04 Barry actually retired during the prime of his career. He was easily one of the top five RBs in the league when he retired and probably had another 3ish years at an elite level and another 2-3 years at a solid level after that. So he doesn't hold a ton of career records because a lot of other guys played more seasons than him. He easily could've played another six years or so in the NFL. His retirement was really shocking, honestly.
You never knew which way he was going. For pure ability, best ever. Only played for Detroit and the team always stunk so he was on his own. Retired in his prime. And this is from a GB Packer lifer. Respect Barry, was a pleasure watching you
I appreciate you doing this Sanders video... I told you in that last Jukes video that you were missing out on the best. I went to the same University (Oklahoma State University) as Sanders. We had a different running back who also became a famous pro (Thurman Thomas). I was in the stands listening to the game on radio as I watched it... the radio commentator announced that if the kicker was smart, he would kick away from Barry Sanders, the most dangerous kick returner in college football... I said Barry who??? The ball went to him and I watched him run forwards, backwards, jump side to side... he ran much further than the 50 yards he gained. I was looking at my friends saying, “holy crap, did you just see that?!”. Been a fan ever since. He became the team running back after Thomas graduated, and he won the Heisman Trophy (best player in college football) the next year. Awesome video guys! Thanks!
If Barry played behind Emmitt’s line and for as long as he did. The rushing record Barry would hold would be talked about in the category of NEVER BEING BROKEN
Seriously do the Bo Jackson highlights he played both Pro Baseball and Pro Football at the same time and one year made the Pro-Bowl and All-start team in both sports no one has ever done that!
Barry could run full speed and then turn 90 degrees and still be going full speed. Greatest RB of all time on the worst team. He created his own holes to run through. We miss him. Retired way too early.
Barry's strengths were thick thighs, a short, strong, compact upper body, speed, the ability to make short quick cuts, and the unbelievable ability to maintain his speed through each cut. He would frequently make 2 or 3 quick cuts before the line of scrimmage to find the seams. His small size was an advantage since he was so quick the defensive lineman couldn't see him and when they did he was already past them.
Greatest. Running Back. Ever. No one in history could do what he did on about 35 of these plays! His team sucked too. It was all him. ...Rewatch this and just focus on how little his team helped him. Its bad. They whiff on so many blocks and leave him 1v2, 1v3, 1v4 in HIS OWN BACKFIELD! Or he has to improvise because there is multiple defenders in the hole he is supposed to run thru.
In the 90’s he played my REDSKINS and he looked faster in person than on tv. It was even more amazing to watch. He looked like he was in a video game. Also he retired before breaking Walter Peytons record. He retired very early in his career. He could of played at an amazing level for another 5-7 years. But chose to leave the game the way he came in. And that’s on his own terms. Yes he was the best running back ever. He played only for the lions. If I’m not mistaken he played 9seasons.
Barry played 10 seasons for the Lions, and never played for another team. He retired out of nowhere (30 y.o. I think)... with the NFL record for career rushing yards less than a season away. Most people say Jim Brown was the greatest RB ever (even Barry Sanders' dad believed so). Chicago and Detroit fans argue about who the second best back was: Walter Payton or Barry Sanders. Queue up a Walter Payton highlight reel... let us know what you think.
My favorite moment of these entire 50 clips is on #5 when Rodney Peete signals for the touchdown when Barry is still at the 25 yard line. I remember watching that live.
To really give a perspective of how unique Barry's abilities were, his #50 run would have been the top highlight for about 95% of NFL running backs TODAY, much less 20 years ago.
Barry Sanders a few years ago was at the International Auto Show in Detroit where I was working security...easy going humble man, I met him and shook his hand, met Tommy Hearns there also and shook his hand. Barry Sanders he 's not as big as you might think ..muscular yes he has wide shoulders but not very wide ...his shoulder pads on the field make his shoulders look much larger.
6:24 you're correct Office Bloke Daz. RBs are generally around 5'10 - 6'0". A RB who is 6'2" or 6'3" is considered very tall for the position. And RBs as short as 5'6" or so do happen. RB is the position where height matters the least. In some cases, being short can actually be beneficial because it allows guys to kind of 'hide' behind the linemen in front of them.
Barry was an amazing talent , he played his whole career with a less than average team . He had an incredible amount yards gained but he also holds the record for the all lost rushing yards as well .
ALL SKILL! He finds Gaps, shoulders, timing….has horse legs , he will turn your position, follow his blockers (and their tempo), speedup, or brake an ankle to find open landscape. If you ever played the game you’d know what a cannonball feels like (especially when they can hit gas or brake on a dime) Barry Sanders was a legend growing up! Barry, Bo Jackson, emmet smith, walter payton…..heros growing up !! Football was Run heavy in those days….defenses were equally great…. nowadays there’s more of a focus on throwing (release times…audible-plays exploit the defense-set last second etc). Select any of the mentioned running backs in a 90’s video game of football and you’ll understand how great they were. (Running backs have a shorter shelf ….they block when its pass play…and get attacked by everyone when they run)
“Devin hester relieves Rookie season throwback original.” He’s a return man and has the most punt and kickoff returns you won’t be disappointed!!!! Amazing video
I remember so often that Barry's statline at the half would be something silly like 12 carries for 4 yards. And at the end of the game it would be 25 carries for 158 yds and 2 touchdowns. That was why he was scary. He could take it all the way on any play.
I know this is a really late reply, but that really was the story of Barry. He'd lose chip yardage for a few plays and then run it all the way to the barn.
Barry was by far the greatest ever. He wasn't the fastest guy, but he had great vision, power, and incredible balance. And that low center of balance made him more difficult to tackle. He was able to accomplish all that even though he played for the shitty Detroit Lions.
Packers had a game where we held Sanders to -1 yards.... was the proudest achievement ever... and I'm a huge Sanders fan.. Was longing for more when he retired. So awesome to watch and such a humble, kind guy.
You should watch his college highlights at OSU. I met him once while I was working at the apple store in OKC. A customer walked up to me and asked me “ is that Barry sanders?” Pointing to the man himself who was browsing the iPad table. I said “ yes it is” and proceeded to go ask him if I could help him find anything. To which he stated “ no thank you just looking” lol and that’s the whole story.
His acceleration was unmatched. He wasn't the fastest as far as top speed, but he was easily the quickest. He was at full stride after a step and a half.
I was raised as a Seattle Seahawks fan since the 80s. I have to say, growing up , Barry was my HERO. I couldn't wait to see him play or see he highlights on the news. Barry IS the g.o.a.t!
My favorite running back. People forget the horrible teams he played on, as well as retiring far to early in good health no less. Easily could be the all time record holder if he wanted to.
Retired still at his peak--like Jim Brown--did not have anything left to prove--and retired even though the all-time lead for yards was within his reach. Just a special guy in every way.
Hey guys, love your stuff. For one of the best trucks in the NFL, take a look at Mike Alstott. That guy ran over and carried entire teams 15 yards at a time.
Running backs are generally shorter as it helps them maintain a lower center of gravity and thus balance. That makes it easier to bounce off weak tackles and keep going.
This guy had runs where he ran almost 50 yards from sideline to sideline with a whole team chasing him and only getting 1 yard forward. It was just amazing to watch him make everyone miss.
There have been 8 running backs to rush the ball over 2000 yards in a season in the History of the NFL & Barry Sanders(Lions) was one of those 8 backs. Eric Dickerson(Rams) holds the record for the most yards. OJ Simpson(Bills) did it in the least amount of games, 14, leading to him having the highest average rushing yards per game. Derrick Henry(Titans) is the most recent to break the 2000 yard barrier, accomplishing this last year. He’s not a typical back, being 6ft 3in weighing in around 250, while being the fastest top speed player on the field. Not to mention is ability to stiff arm makes nfl defensive players look like high schoolers (Fun fact: Henry holds the all time high school rushing record also). He regularly runs for 200 yards plus a game and has led the NFL in rushing for 2 years now. His highlights are worth checking out. Chris Johnson(Titans), Adrian Peterson(Vikings), Jamal Lewis(Ravens) and Terrell Davis(Broncos) round out the 2000 yard club. Thanks for the great content, gentlemen.
I'm a Detroiter and had the pleasure of watching this guy every weekend. Barry to me is the greatest RB to ever play. He retired early or he would've broke every record there was.
For me and a lot of other football fans Barry is Thanksgiving. Just about every year the Detroit Lions played somebody on Thanksgiving and most football fans were watching. As much as I enjoyed spending time with family Barry was just as much a part of the holiday. Barry Sanders was not only the best running back ever but was also a good person. One thing you probably didn't notice but you watched 50 of his best moments and there wasn't a single case of showboating. He didn't jump around like an idiot, get in people's faces or do some stupid dance...he handed the ball to the ref a lot and headed to the sidelines. He retired 1500ish yards from the all-time rushing record which for him was an average year but he didn't want to break the record just to break it. Being on a team that was about to rebuild (again) and unable to get traded he decided to retire instead.
Please do Randy Moss, guy was such a phenomenal talent he absolutely demolished the league when he entered the NFL. Defensive coordinators had absolute fits trying to come up with a game plan that could stop him
Barry Sanders played his entire career with the Detroit Lions. He surprised everyone by retiring early in 1999 after his tenth year. He had a 2000+ rushing yard season in '97. He also won the Heisman Trophy in college while playing for Oklahoma State. His last season in college he rushed for over 2,800 yards and 42 touchdowns. He's is just amazing when he has the football in his hands!
Yep averaged something like 256 yards per game. The only reason he didn't start immediately at OSU is he was sitting behind a future NFL hall of famer named Thurman Thomas. One of the best quotes in football history is Barry Switzer of OU walking into a team meeting telling his defense not to hurt Thomas because he's not sure they can even tackle Sanders.
@@rigrmortis3393 Hahaha! That was a great quote! I forgot who he was playing behind because his first two years at OSU he wasn't the starter. Thurman Thomas... that explains it! Thanks, Rigrmortis!
Best running back I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been an NFL fan since the late 1960’s. I loved Walter Payton as well, nicknamed “Sweetness”. One guy you may want to check out, is Gale Sayers, his career was very short, but spectacular. His highlight reel is very similar to Sanders, without a doubt, the 2 shiftiest running backs of all time. Sayers only played 5 full seasons, and very small portions of 2 more, but still made the NFL Hall Of Fame, recognized because of his sheer greatness. I’m embarrassed to say, but as a kid in the 1970s, I loved OJ Simpson, also one of the all time great running backs, before he became a killer. Hell I became a USC fan (his college team) because of OJ.
you also need to listen to the crowd when he breaks through, I got to see him play live and the electricity was off the chart, the whole stadium erupts and lifts you, unforgettable thanks Barry
Barry Sanders was a joy to watch. He made my Thanksgivings while cooking a turkey. No one was better in my book. Smith may have the yardage record but of anyone of my era, GenX or older, I’ve never heard a SINGLE PERSON say Emmitt was better than Barry. Rightfully so..
Barry Sanders played here in Detroit for his entire NFL career. We were all shocked when he decided to quit playing football period. If he hadn't quit he would have been the leading running back with gained yardage. He said that he didn't have the desire to play anymore . He's a very nice and humble person. I use to get goosebumps watching him play and watching this I'm getting them again. 😂😁
Barry was like a high end sports car, his 0-60 was ridiculous, but you may find a guy on the field with a higher top speed, it just depended on how long that other guy took to get to top speed to catch Barry. His start-stop-start was just ridiculous
as someone from Michigan let me tell you, Barry is the only good player the Lions ever had and he carried the team when he was on it. he's not making these plays because he has the best around him, he's making these plays with the worst around him, that's how good he is.
I was so disappointed that he played for Detroit during his career, but when Detroit was on the TV, I watched them just for him. He played for Oklahoma State University during his college years and was drafted to Detroit. He played for about 10 years and retired early to preserve his health. He was one of the best to play the game. Now you guys need to react to Walter "Sweetness" Payton, Bo Jackson and the story of Ronnie Lott (he cut off his finger during a game to return back to the game and play some more lol). Michael Vick would be a good one to react to as well.
I heard that he retired for three reasons mainly. One, because it was out of respect to Walter Payton's rushing record as he didn't want to break it, two was due to the fact the Lions refused to trade him, and lastly because he just felt the game was "too easy" and didn't really feel into it anymore. That's what I've heard at least.
@@dallasoliver1933 The only problems with any of those would be 1. He really didn't care about breaking records or setting them, 2. he was loyal to Detroit, and had no issues with the franchise in terms of trading or otherwise, and 3. He never felt the game as too easy, he plainly said he wanted to keep his health intact.
I think it's funny that most of the times when Barry gets caught from behind, the defender uses a "horse collar" tackle which has since been deemed illegal.
![Cris, Up For Anything! - [Deltarune: The Otherer Puppet]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/C50ns0SwmTM/mqdefault.jpg)
He played his entire career in Detroit. He was also well known for the fact that he NEVER celebrated on field, not even the run that got him the record. I met him at a book-signing, he is truly one of the nicest, politest people you will ever meet.
He was such a great example for kids like me.
I have no doubt but I will say that he might have if he was not the entire offensive attack in those years. He would have been slapping some high fives if he had went to the Super Bowl.
I remember him telling some younger players "Act like it's normal. Act like you're supposed to be there, and that you're gonna be there again real soon".
Barry basically carried those teams too. He didn’t have near the blocking or other help that guys like Emmitt Smith enjoyed
Dallas cowboys fan here and your statement is so true
Great point. I always wondered how he would have been on a great offensive blocking team. Sanders made blocks for himself with his jukes in Detroit. Imagine him behind a top tier O-Line!
I was born and raised in Michigan, Lions fan for years. Make no mistake about it, BARRY WAS THE TEAM. What made him so great was the fact that the opposing teams KNEW he was getting the ball, all the time, almost every play, and he STILL CRUSHED THEM!
They should also watch marshawn lynch
If Barry Sanders had the Cowboys offensive line of the 90s, he'd still be running.
He played his entire pro career with Detroit, and retired after ten years or so while still in his prime. If memory serves, he wanted to preserve his health, and in spite of having an atrocious defensive team, he felt loyal to the team and the city.
He also was tired of not being as successful regarding wins/losses and was frustrated they couldn't build a better team around him.
Well put.
Barry wanted a new contract for more money or be traded. The lions did neither so he retired
@@patdrips3783 it was about competing MUCH MORE than about money. He wanted them to BUILD something around him so they could make & advance in the playoffs, with areas SOME CHANCE at a SB. He had seen what Dallas built around Emmitt for all those years & finally said why not me?
I grew up in Detroit and was a huge Barry fan. I was upset and disappointed when he retired. But I later discovered that he retired because he was tired of losing and he knew the Lions would never trade him. It's telling that 2 of the greatest players ever, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, both retired in the prime of their careers after realizing they had no chance of winning a championship with the Lions. Sad to say, but the Lions are one of the very worst teams in all of professional sports. The other Detroit teams (Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings) have had their ups and downs (but they've all won championships in my lifetime), but the Lions have been solidly mediocre for my entire life, and I'm now 51 years old...
Greatest running back I've ever seen. He retired early from football.
Edit" Bill Romanowski is the crazy person you're thinking about
Depends, I would put Walter Peyton ahead of him. But obviously, a great back.
10 years is pretty long for a runningback but not nearly as long as Emmitt Smith who wasn't as good IMO.
You're correct on BR, a true prick. He was not well liked, and should have been thrown out of the league.
I met Barry Sanders when I was in my twenties and working at a restaurant in Wichita, Kansas. I said I was a huge fan and tried to be polite and leave him alone, but he spent 10 minutes talking to me about football and was an incredibly soft-spoken, kind and humble man.
7:52 The thing is, he's not really finding the gaps, he's creating them. He uses his own movement to shift the defense's movement to create space and create gaps for himself. He was such a talented and FUN player to watch. His team sucked for most of his career. People would watch their games just to watch him.
Notice that when he’s tackled it’s usually by his collar. That tackle isn’t even legal in today’s game. Imagine if he had been on a decent team.
Also, you won’t meet a guy with better character
This is a great point. Half those tackles would be flagged as horse collar tackles now.
During his career his offensive line (his blockers) were considered just OK--THAT is how good he was.
Okay at best look at how many of the plays when the entire dline is on the side offenseive side of the feild
Barry ran for 2000 yards in a year where his negative plays totaled ovee 400. That’s just mind boggling.
@@jeffwilliams2828 wait really?
Never a qb or any kind of wr to speak of either
@@joshuabolton3866 It's totally true man! In the game where he broke 2000 yards, the jets pulled some bs rule out of their asses that stated that they didn't have to run a play because the fans were cheering too loudly for Barry.
Emmitt Smith has the most yards for a RB, and his record is considered untouchable. Smith claims Barry would've had the record had he not retired early.
That was a great era to live through. Smith and Sanders playing at the same time made for some great football.
Barry would have also had the record if they had switched teams. I can't even imagine the production with that Cowboys O-Line, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irving.
Anyone who watched them both knows that Barry would have that record and it would be way out of reach. Remember how many years Smith hung on chasing the record when he was no good anymore? Remember his AZ Cardinals years? Probably not because he was awful, but he hung on to get the yards he needed to break the record.
@SUBverse Nation yeah, I'm not really trying to knock Smith. Mostly just trying to say that Barry is as close as he is despite retiring early. If he had stayed as long as Smith it would not even be conversation.
@@lbsure1781 Thurman Thomas too!
Barry is by far the best running back in NFL history. The fact that the three guys ahead of him on the all-time leader board played 3-6 years longer make it even more impressive.
I wouldn't say by far, but he's the best in my opinion. And he always played on a shit of a team.
I agree with you....but I do believe that title would belong to Bo Jackson had he not been injured
@@klasyk1532 Don't get me wrong I think Bo had the talent but for Bo baseball came first. All those missed games I think would have cost him a shot at it.
Jim Brown might take issue with that statement lol I'm only kidding I love Barry. That he pulled off all that with trash Lions teams is also amazing. Could you imagine if he was playing for a team like Dallas at that time with Larry Allen blocking for him? He probably would have cleared 20k yards on his career
This guy Barry seems nuts I wouldn't be surprised if he was was easy top 3
Barry Sanders is 5'8" on a good day, but his legs were thicker than anyone else on the field.
Yeah, he proved that height doesn't mean crap when it comes to skill. I'm sure he was given shite about his height by other American "blokes" in the NFL who were 6 ft to 7ft tall, yet he proved height "impaired" has advantages, and wow, did he play good. That is why he earned Legendary status in American football and inspired other Americans who have not fitted the towering status quo of Football height wise.
You can see in this video how many defenders didn't want to hit him straight on. You're better off tackling a bowling ball shot from a canon.
Huge ass and thighs are the secret, dude had a PowerPoint with a low center of gravity
Barry Sanders thighs were 31 inches around, I was well into my 20's wear size 32 waist and I'm taller than him.
I believe he squatted around 650 pounds
"As good as he played, he had to have good blockers."
Well, you say that, but...
Some people are born with great speed and some people are born with great vision. He is one of the very few that was born with both. Great reaction to a great athlete.
Barry Sanders is such a class act. My favorite player of all time.
After making these astonishing plays, Barry would politely hand the ball to the ref, go back to the bench, and fall asleep until it was his turn again, lol. No massive celebrations of himself needed. I grew up watching him in Detroit and he was pure class and respect, all the way around.
His dad taught him that. He told Barry, when you score, don’t celebrate, just act like you’ve been in the end zone before, just hand the ball to the ref. I LOVED that. Modern day celebrations look so stupid, embarrassing really.
Greatest Running Back of all time
Nah thats jim brown
@@condorgaming4000 okay, fine. Jim is the greatest, and Barry is the best.
@@davidorioli3870 Barry has the record for tackled for losses. so theres that. but great rb
@@michaelsmith-iu1be there's also his line, so, there's also that. Film speaks for itself
@@davidorioli3870 lol it doesnt matter at the end of the day, everyone is gonna have their own opinion. I just think jim brown is the greatest of all time at the running back position. I can see why some could say barry though.
Hey guys. Thank you, thank you!! I have asked twice to see you do Barry and here he is. Barry did play his whole career with Detroit and is now an executive with the team. After years of being a top player in the league on a losing team (with no complaining), Barry went to management and made a request. Before he retired he wanted a chance to be on a title winning team and get to a Super Bowl. So he asked for a trade to a contender (Detroit used him for years to bring fans in etc, but never spent money to put a quality team around him). The team flatly refused to trade him and a year or two later he retired. He is 4th in rushing yardage all time. He could have played a few more seasons, but took a beating those last couple years with no other weapons to take some of the pressure off him. Barry says he learned those moves as a kid. The area he grew up in didn't have tackle football for kids, so he played flag football. He learned that being shifty was important to keep your flags from being pulled. Players in the NFL swore that he could change direction with both feet off the ground lol. Great player and a great guy in the community as well. You guys should check out a couple more great backs Gale Sayers and Walter Payton. Both were great running backs for the Chicago Bears. And oh yeah, Michael Vick is definitely a piece of sh#t and not worthy of anyone's time. He was an evasive runner but his position was quarterback. Maybe he should have played another position. Also the guy whose name you were trying to remember was Bill Romanowski. Great reaction here guys. Looking forward to more. Stay safe and well.
Well put. Class act to the end. I remember seeing video of him giving out gatorade or water to his teammates. Quote I often remember from who I've no clue. ' act like you've been there before' , that was barry, just politely hands the football off to the nearest official after a touchdown.
Detroit actually had pretty atrocious offensive lines for run blocking, that’s part of what makes Barry the best ever. He managed to do incredible things in spite of the quality of team around him.
One of the greatest to ever do it and then retire early. Please do Walter Payton!!
please god no.
Sweetness is my all time favourite
Hey office blokes, Barry Sanders played his whole career on the Detroit Lions.
You're damn right he did! Proud Michigander here!
The worst team in history! Shame.
@@stonemansteveiii3135 Meh
@@stonemansteveiii3135 I think you mean the Browns, or Jags, or Cowboys, or Packers.
@@tupac1971ever No, actually the record was set by the Lions just a few years ago; 16 losses!!! They were already for years, but that just proved it for the world!
10:04 Barry actually retired during the prime of his career. He was easily one of the top five RBs in the league when he retired and probably had another 3ish years at an elite level and another 2-3 years at a solid level after that. So he doesn't hold a ton of career records because a lot of other guys played more seasons than him. He easily could've played another six years or so in the NFL. His retirement was really shocking, honestly.
You never knew which way he was going. For pure ability, best ever. Only played for Detroit and the team always stunk so he was on his own. Retired in his prime. And this is from a GB Packer lifer. Respect Barry, was a pleasure watching you
I appreciate you doing this Sanders video... I told you in that last Jukes video that you were missing out on the best. I went to the same University (Oklahoma State University) as Sanders. We had a different running back who also became a famous pro (Thurman Thomas). I was in the stands listening to the game on radio as I watched it... the radio commentator announced that if the kicker was smart, he would kick away from Barry Sanders, the most dangerous kick returner in college football... I said Barry who??? The ball went to him and I watched him run forwards, backwards, jump side to side... he ran much further than the 50 yards he gained. I was looking at my friends saying, “holy crap, did you just see that?!”. Been a fan ever since. He became the team running back after Thomas graduated, and he won the Heisman Trophy (best player in college football) the next year. Awesome video guys! Thanks!
Wow 😮 Dope story.. I would've loved to have witnessed that as well
If Barry played behind Emmitt’s line and for as long as he did. The rushing record Barry would hold would be talked about in the category of NEVER BEING BROKEN
My favorite player of that era. He played on bad teams as well. If he had ANY help he would have done so much more.
My favorite too. I bought his jersey when I was a little kid.
Team. He only played for Detroit
Everytime I think of Barry Sanders I can't help but both smile and say Emmitt who. Dallas fans will know the truth. (:
He sure made it exciting for us here in Michigan!
Seriously do the Bo Jackson highlights he played both Pro Baseball and Pro Football at the same time and one year made the Pro-Bowl and All-start team in both sports no one has ever done that!
I think Deion Sanders is the only person to have played in both the World Series and the Superbowl.
Barry could run full speed and then turn 90 degrees and still be going full speed. Greatest RB of all time on the worst team. He created his own holes to run through. We miss him. Retired way too early.
“How much luck is involved” “NONE” perfect response haha
Barry's strengths were thick thighs, a short, strong, compact upper body, speed, the ability to make short quick cuts, and the unbelievable ability to maintain his speed through each cut. He would frequently make 2 or 3 quick cuts before the line of scrimmage to find the seams. His small size was an advantage since he was so quick the defensive lineman couldn't see him and when they did he was already past them.
Greatest. Running Back. Ever.
No one in history could do what he did on about 35 of these plays! His team sucked too. It was all him.
...Rewatch this and just focus on how little his team helped him. Its bad. They whiff on so many blocks and leave him 1v2, 1v3, 1v4 in HIS OWN BACKFIELD! Or he has to improvise because there is multiple defenders in the hole he is supposed to run thru.
Barry Sanders is the best running back I've seen since Joe Montana
😂😂
Joe Montana was a QB....
LMAOOO
Did you mean Joe Mantegna?
@@brandyperry-giotis9962 he averaged 1900 rushing yards a season. There'll never be a better shortstop.
The thing about Barry Sanders o always noticed, is that he never celebrated after a touchdown. Always humble. GOAT.
That #1 run, I swear he ran through literally the entire cowboys defense.
Barry Sanders had such a low center of gravity, that trying to tackle him was like trying to tackle a bowling ball.....
In the 90’s he played my REDSKINS and he looked faster in person than on tv. It was even more amazing to watch. He looked like he was in a video game. Also he retired before breaking Walter Peytons record. He retired very early in his career. He could of played at an amazing level for another 5-7 years. But chose to leave the game the way he came in. And that’s on his own terms.
Yes he was the best running back ever. He played only for the lions. If I’m not mistaken he played 9seasons.
He had an amazing center of gravity, and never stopped moving. He was the best.
Kept his head on a swivel……seen everything because he was always looking…..watch how many times and how fast he glances back and around
Barry played 10 seasons for the Lions, and never played for another team. He retired out of nowhere (30 y.o. I think)... with the NFL record for career rushing yards less than a season away.
Most people say Jim Brown was the greatest RB ever (even Barry Sanders' dad believed so). Chicago and Detroit fans argue about who the second best back was: Walter Payton or Barry Sanders. Queue up a Walter Payton highlight reel... let us know what you think.
imagine how many of these would be TDs if they weren't allowed to horse collar tackle back then
My favorite moment of these entire 50 clips is on #5 when Rodney Peete signals for the touchdown when Barry is still at the 25 yard line. I remember watching that live.
The clips where he humiliates the entire Patriots and Cowboys defense are ALL TIME
You could describe a player his size and stature as a “bowling ball”...Barry was a cannonball though
To really give a perspective of how unique Barry's abilities were, his #50 run would have been the top highlight for about 95% of NFL running backs TODAY, much less 20 years ago.
I think all of us dream of having the natural ability and the skill to pull off even a few of these moves!!! Nice one mates! Cheers
Great Balance, and always handed the ball to the ref on a touchdown. He did it like it was his job. Class act.
Barry Sanders a few years ago was at the International Auto Show in Detroit where I was working security...easy going humble man, I met him and shook his hand, met Tommy Hearns there also and shook his hand. Barry Sanders he 's not as big as you might think ..muscular yes he has wide shoulders but not very wide ...his shoulder pads on the field make his shoulders look much larger.
Barry made most defenses look like they didn’t know how to tackle.
6:24 you're correct Office Bloke Daz. RBs are generally around 5'10 - 6'0". A RB who is 6'2" or 6'3" is considered very tall for the position. And RBs as short as 5'6" or so do happen. RB is the position where height matters the least. In some cases, being short can actually be beneficial because it allows guys to kind of 'hide' behind the linemen in front of them.
Case and point Warrick Dunn.
I love the fact that you mentioned the blockers contributing to Barry’s success. As a former player myself, I appreciate it!
Barry was an amazing talent , he played his whole career with a less than average team . He had an incredible amount yards gained but he also holds the record for the all lost rushing yards as well .
Watching a Barry Sanders highlight reel makes me happy.
I can't imagine playing safety and trying to stop Barry as he's chugging towards you, full speed.
Barry Sanders could run for touch football touchdowns in a hallway.
Daz is ABSOLUTELY correct with his Barry Sanders comments. By far.....the BEST running back to ever touch the ball
ALL SKILL! He finds Gaps, shoulders, timing….has horse legs , he will turn your position, follow his blockers (and their tempo), speedup, or brake an ankle to find open landscape. If you ever played the game you’d know what a cannonball feels like (especially when they can hit gas or brake on a dime)
Barry Sanders was a legend growing up!
Barry, Bo Jackson, emmet smith, walter payton…..heros growing up !! Football was Run heavy in those days….defenses were equally great….
nowadays there’s more of a focus on throwing (release times…audible-plays exploit the defense-set last second etc). Select any of the mentioned running backs in a 90’s video game of football and you’ll understand how great they were. (Running backs have a shorter shelf ….they block when its pass play…and get attacked by everyone when they run)
You should do Calvin Johnson as well. He also played for the lions and retired early due to the team not being good. But one of the best wr
“Devin hester relieves Rookie season throwback original.”
He’s a return man and has the most punt and kickoff returns you won’t be disappointed!!!! Amazing video
I remember so often that Barry's statline at the half would be something silly like 12 carries for 4 yards. And at the end of the game it would be 25 carries for 158 yds and 2 touchdowns. That was why he was scary. He could take it all the way on any play.
I know this is a really late reply, but that really was the story of Barry. He'd lose chip yardage for a few plays and then run it all the way to the barn.
Sanders was an amazing player.
My favorite RBs are Walter Peyton and Earl Campbell.
And there are soooooo many others who are amazing.
Barry was by far the greatest ever. He wasn't the fastest guy, but he had great vision, power, and incredible balance. And that low center of balance made him more difficult to tackle. He was able to accomplish all that even though he played for the shitty Detroit Lions.
Barry Sanders the best running back ever. Also a great human. Glad I got to see him play
Packers had a game where we held Sanders to -1 yards.... was the proudest achievement ever... and I'm a huge Sanders fan.. Was longing for more when he retired. So awesome to watch and such a humble, kind guy.
You should watch his college highlights at OSU. I met him once while I was working at the apple store in OKC. A customer walked up to me and asked me “ is that Barry sanders?” Pointing to the man himself who was browsing the iPad table. I said “ yes it is” and proceeded to go ask him if I could help him find anything. To which he stated “ no thank you just looking” lol and that’s the whole story.
His acceleration was unmatched. He wasn't the fastest as far as top speed, but he was easily the quickest. He was at full stride after a step and a half.
Barry Sanders' ankles are made of slinkies, this is how he's sooo good at evading tackles 🤣😂
Barry Sanders was a phenom, he captivated the world
I was raised as a Seattle Seahawks fan since the 80s. I have to say, growing up , Barry was my HERO. I couldn't wait to see him play or see he highlights on the news. Barry IS the g.o.a.t!
My favorite running back. People forget the horrible teams he played on, as well as retiring far to early in good health no less. Easily could be the all time record holder if he wanted to.
Retired still at his peak--like Jim Brown--did not have anything left to prove--and retired even though the all-time lead for yards was within his reach. Just a special guy in every way.
As a Lions lifer I want a SB, but dang it I can always watch our Barry GOAT for now.
I've seen him make 8 guys miss, a couple of them twice, and only get 1 yard. But it was glorious to watch.
Hey guys, love your stuff. For one of the best trucks in the NFL, take a look at Mike Alstott. That guy ran over and carried entire teams 15 yards at a time.
Every time I see Barry Sanders career highlights, I’m always reminded how much I love those old Buccaneers unis. Wish they’d bring em back.
Barry was so incredibley amazing...I always enjoyed watching him break a tackle... Barry could move 👍
Running backs are generally shorter as it helps them maintain a lower center of gravity and thus balance. That makes it easier to bounce off weak tackles and keep going.
Thanks for doing this. Barry was amazing.
#9 on the top 10.......is the absolute EPITOME of Barry. Best highlight of all
This guy had runs where he ran almost 50 yards from sideline to sideline with a whole team chasing him and only getting 1 yard forward. It was just amazing to watch him make everyone miss.
There have been 8 running backs to rush the ball over 2000 yards in a season in the History of the NFL & Barry Sanders(Lions) was one of those 8 backs.
Eric Dickerson(Rams) holds the record for the most yards.
OJ Simpson(Bills) did it in the least amount of games, 14, leading to him having the highest average rushing yards per game.
Derrick Henry(Titans) is the most recent to break the 2000 yard barrier, accomplishing this last year. He’s not a typical back, being 6ft 3in weighing in around 250, while being the fastest top speed player on the field. Not to mention is ability to stiff arm makes nfl defensive players look like high schoolers (Fun fact: Henry holds the all time high school rushing record also). He regularly runs for 200 yards plus a game and has led the NFL in rushing for 2 years now. His highlights are worth checking out.
Chris Johnson(Titans), Adrian Peterson(Vikings), Jamal Lewis(Ravens) and Terrell Davis(Broncos) round out the 2000 yard club.
Thanks for the great content, gentlemen.
In football we use the term "run with your eyes "..... You are basically just reading and reacting without even thinking most of the time
I'm a Detroiter and had the pleasure of watching this guy every weekend. Barry to me is the greatest RB to ever play. He retired early or he would've broke every record there was.
Mike with the "put the burners on"! love it haha
The player you're trying to remember was Bill Romanowski
Fun Fact: His college roommate at Oklahoma State was Thurman Thomas. Both are in the Hall of Fame.
He also backed Thurman up on the team
Should check out Mike Alstott, big dude making quick plays. Also Brian Urlacher for defense is fun to watch
For me and a lot of other football fans Barry is Thanksgiving. Just about every year the Detroit Lions played somebody on Thanksgiving and most football fans were watching. As much as I enjoyed spending time with family Barry was just as much a part of the holiday.
Barry Sanders was not only the best running back ever but was also a good person. One thing you probably didn't notice but you watched 50 of his best moments and there wasn't a single case of showboating. He didn't jump around like an idiot, get in people's faces or do some stupid dance...he handed the ball to the ref a lot and headed to the sidelines.
He retired 1500ish yards from the all-time rushing record which for him was an average year but he didn't want to break the record just to break it. Being on a team that was about to rebuild (again) and unable to get traded he decided to retire instead.
Please do Randy Moss, guy was such a phenomenal talent he absolutely demolished the league when he entered the NFL. Defensive coordinators had absolute fits trying to come up with a game plan that could stop him
Barry Sanders played his entire career with the Detroit Lions. He surprised everyone by retiring early in 1999 after his tenth year. He had a 2000+ rushing yard season in '97. He also won the Heisman Trophy in college while playing for Oklahoma State. His last season in college he rushed for over 2,800 yards and 42 touchdowns. He's is just amazing when he has the football in his hands!
Yep averaged something like 256 yards per game. The only reason he didn't start immediately at OSU is he was sitting behind a future NFL hall of famer named Thurman Thomas. One of the best quotes in football history is Barry Switzer of OU walking into a team meeting telling his defense not to hurt Thomas because he's not sure they can even tackle Sanders.
@@rigrmortis3393 Hahaha! That was a great quote! I forgot who he was playing behind because his first two years at OSU he wasn't the starter. Thurman Thomas... that explains it! Thanks, Rigrmortis!
@@tweeotch You're welcome. That era was some of the best football ever played imo and I watched a lot of it.
Best running back I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been an NFL fan since the late 1960’s. I loved Walter Payton as well, nicknamed “Sweetness”. One guy you may want to check out, is Gale Sayers, his career was very short, but spectacular. His highlight reel is very similar to Sanders, without a doubt, the 2 shiftiest running backs of all time. Sayers only played 5 full seasons, and very small portions of 2 more, but still made the NFL Hall Of Fame, recognized because of his sheer greatness.
I’m embarrassed to say, but as a kid in the 1970s, I loved OJ Simpson, also one of the all time great running backs, before he became a killer. Hell I became a USC fan (his college team) because of OJ.
you also need to listen to the crowd when he breaks through, I got to see him play live and the electricity was off the chart, the whole stadium erupts and lifts you, unforgettable thanks Barry
Barry Sanders was a joy to watch. He made my Thanksgivings while cooking a turkey. No one was better in my book.
Smith may have the yardage record but of anyone of my era, GenX or older, I’ve never heard a SINGLE PERSON say Emmitt was better than Barry. Rightfully so..
If you look deep into his career his 3,5, and 7-yard runs were the real gems of his story.
Barry Sanders played here in Detroit for his entire NFL career. We were all shocked when he decided to quit playing football period. If he hadn't quit he would have been the leading running back with gained yardage. He said that he didn't have the desire to play anymore . He's a very nice and humble person. I use to get goosebumps watching him play and watching this I'm getting them again. 😂😁
Barry was like a high end sports car, his 0-60 was ridiculous, but you may find a guy on the field with a higher top speed, it just depended on how long that other guy took to get to top speed to catch Barry. His start-stop-start was just ridiculous
as someone from Michigan let me tell you, Barry is the only good player the Lions ever had and he carried the team when he was on it. he's not making these plays because he has the best around him, he's making these plays with the worst around him, that's how good he is.
Zero showboating. Sheer professionalism.
I was so disappointed that he played for Detroit during his career, but when Detroit was on the TV, I watched them just for him. He played for Oklahoma State University during his college years and was drafted to Detroit. He played for about 10 years and retired early to preserve his health. He was one of the best to play the game.
Now you guys need to react to Walter "Sweetness" Payton, Bo Jackson and the story of Ronnie Lott (he cut off his finger during a game to return back to the game and play some more lol). Michael Vick would be a good one to react to as well.
I heard that he retired for three reasons mainly. One, because it was out of respect to Walter Payton's rushing record as he didn't want to break it, two was due to the fact the Lions refused to trade him, and lastly because he just felt the game was "too easy" and didn't really feel into it anymore. That's what I've heard at least.
@@dallasoliver1933 The only problems with any of those would be 1. He really didn't care about breaking records or setting them, 2. he was loyal to Detroit, and had no issues with the franchise in terms of trading or otherwise, and 3. He never felt the game as too easy, he plainly said he wanted to keep his health intact.
Great video! You guys are getting the hang of American football pretty well now!
I think it's funny that most of the times when Barry gets caught from behind, the defender uses a "horse collar" tackle which has since been deemed illegal.