I grew up watching him play, one of the most explosive and shifty running back ever. He always seems underrated in my opinion, I understand he got injured but still he was amazing. You'll always be one of my favorites Billy🏈
I thought he was the best of his era. The non sense with the us f l contract cost him the hof I am guessing. He was an older rookie too, which cost him longevity.
@ I don’t think it was his fourth. Billy was I think 28 when he blew out the knee on the metronome turf. He wore a lot of tread off his tires at Oklahoma. The acl was a widow maker for athletes back then. The contract situation with the usfl was such a disaster for him, he got bad advice from his agent. And the lions were cheap in that era
I was 13 in Billy's first year. Thanks for showing the reaction of the teammates. With a team that was always so bad, he came in and instantly gave us some cred. Love those older unis, and any way that you can post the entire Dallas game from '81?
Billy Sims was a very exciting back to watch and an integral part of the Lion's Roaring 20's -- Lem Barney, Billy Sims and Barry Sanders -- all of whom wore no 20 for the Lions. Thanks for the memories, Billy!
I enjoyed Barry because he could move in ways normal people just can't. But if I had to win one playoff game indoors or out, I'd take Billy and never look back. If only Eddie Murray hadn't pushed that kick wide against the 49er's in 83. But then again I guess you could play the "If Only" game with the Lions from now until the end of time. Anyway, thanks for remembering one helluva football player.
@@antwandukes There were things Sims did better than Sanders. I'll tell you this, on today's Lions team, Sims would thrive more than Sanders. Blocking, blitz pickup and receiving out of the backfield played more into Sims strengths than Barry's, and all are a big part of Dan Campbell's/Ben Johnson's offense. That being said, yeah, Sanders was the better back.....
@kekkomartin5848 No he did not.thats your opinion. I saw Barry Sanders play in college too. And it was a lot of things that he was able to do. That the Lions never took advantage of. I'm telling you Barry Sanders could catch the ball out the backfield with ease.And he was a better pass blocker than people think too. And way more durable. Play for 10 years without getting injured. All that is a plus.
@@UberKrispy Barry used to get tackled from behind often, especially in that gimmick offense they had him playing in. He had to try to outrun a million defensive backs due to that gimmick offense. Lol
I never saw a point in a game where Billy Sims had fewer yards than carries. How many times was Barry Sanders 12 rushes 9 yards or worse? Sure, he busts off a 60-yard highlight reel run but only after 3 or 4 possession-ending RFL?
I'm not even a Lions fan, and IMO Billy would have been great if he didn't get injured. Also, I wonder what would have become of Billy's career if he got hurt today. Billy tears ACL career is over, Adrian Peterson tears ACL and runs for 2k yards the next season.
@@UberKrispy I remember Keith Millard, my Vikings, who was a beast on the D-line in the late 80s. Then tears his ACL in '90 and was never the same. IMO guys like Billy should have been legends.
But, what if Billy never gets hurt and the Lions are a competitive team in the 80s to early 90s. Do they still get Barry? I loved Barry and I'm a Vikings fan.
Many know Gale Sayers had a knee injury that shortened, and effectively ended his career. He is also in the HOF. Sims also suffered a terrible knee injury that ended his career. What I dont understand is Sims gained more yardage on the ground than Sayers and also scored more career TDs, but he is NOT in the HOF. Am I missing something here??
Vicious block against the Chiefs at 0:33! Billy was fast, strong, great at cutting back against the grain. A much more effective receiver than Barry, and it was crazy how he'd run those deep routes from the backfield. A pure football player, and the injury that took it all away was one of the cruelest blows that fate ever dealt to Lions fans.
He was the hope for kids like me back then. He was fast, strong, flashy, passionate, dynamic... and then it ended as fast as it began. I wonder why the Lions organization behaves as if he never existed. They honored the various #20's, but didn't include him. If they've honored him with past greats, I must've missed it.
Man, he was special. 🤷🏻♂️👍🏻 My dad was an Oklahoma fan when I was a young lad, so he turned me on to Billy Sims. One of my biggest regrets as a fan was that he didn’t play a full career. 🤷🏻♂️👍🏻
Sims was a goal line td machine. Billy would swan dive from 5 yards out into the end zone. Barry came out at the goal line and Tommy Vardell punched it in.
Billy Sims most Lions fans thought best running back ever, until Barry Sanders showed up, Either way the Detroit Lions had 2 of the greatest RBs in the history of the NFL.
@@UberKrispy You must have never seen Billy Sims for you to say that I've seen more than just a few snippets I've seen his whole career as brief as it was.
@@karlcooper8460 I watched his whole career from his first he in LA against the Rams until he blew.out his.knee 4 years later in Minnesota. He was a great back. But don't ever say Barry Who.like a numbnut dumb shit
Billy was a complete back. Had vision, quickness, speed, and was a powerful runner when he wanted/needed to be. Would've been a HOF had he not tore his ACL. IMO I think Billy, when healthy, was a better back than Barry was.
He didn't have a lot of really long runs. His little stride always got him caught..the dbs could close the gap. 😂 But in short yardage plays..nobody could bring him down.
God decided that blessing Detroit with Billy Sims followed by Barry Sanders was so unfair to the rest of the league, that It was only fair to make the lions one of the worst franchises in modern history.
Thank you for the video. One of the greatest players I've ever seen. Deserves the HOF.
I grew up watching him play, one of the most explosive and shifty running back ever. He always seems underrated in my opinion, I understand he got injured but still he was amazing. You'll always be one of my favorites Billy🏈
Billy Sims 🐐🐐🐐
Yeah but Barry Sanders 🐐🐐🐐🐐
I'm glad he was successful after his career ended so quickly. Godspeed.
It took him awhile though he had a lot of bad luck with bad Investments but he did get it together
New subscriber & thanks for this. Here in Detroit Billy was IT. So underrated playing for such a crap team. He was a meaner & tougher Barry.
Best RB I've ever seen play. Sims is 2nd behind Brown in yards from scrimmage per game, Sanders is third. Put that man in the HOF.
I thought he was the best of his era. The non sense with the us f l contract cost him the hof I am guessing. He was an older rookie too, which cost him longevity.
What cost him was his knee getting destroyed in only his 4th season , if I’m not mistaken.
@ I don’t think it was his fourth. Billy was I think 28 when he blew out the knee on the metronome turf. He wore a lot of tread off his tires at Oklahoma. The acl was a widow maker for athletes back then. The contract situation with the usfl was such a disaster for him, he got bad advice from his agent. And the lions were cheap in that era
My Favorite 80’s Playing.
You’ve got your list upside down. Sanders is best to ever touch the ball in Detroit or anywhere!
I was 13 in Billy's first year. Thanks for showing the reaction of the teammates. With a team that was always so bad, he came in and instantly gave us some cred. Love those older unis, and any way that you can post the entire Dallas game from '81?
that was a beautiful straightarm for the touchdown!
Billy Sims was a very exciting back to watch and an integral part of the Lion's Roaring 20's -- Lem Barney, Billy Sims and Barry Sanders -- all of whom wore no 20 for the Lions. Thanks for the memories, Billy!
Thank you for this, many younger lions fans know nothing of Billy Sims.
I was 15 years old in 1980, I loved Billy Sims and he belongs in the HOF!
I enjoyed Barry because he could move in ways normal people just can't. But if I had to win one playoff game indoors or out, I'd take Billy and never look back. If only Eddie Murray hadn't pushed that kick wide against the 49er's in 83. But then again I guess you could play the "If Only" game with the Lions from now until the end of time. Anyway, thanks for remembering one helluva football player.
No way, I would take Billy Sims over Barry Sanders, in no football game ever.
@@antwandukes There were things Sims did better than Sanders. I'll tell you this, on today's Lions team, Sims would thrive more than Sanders. Blocking, blitz pickup and receiving out of the backfield played more into Sims strengths than Barry's, and all are a big part of Dan Campbell's/Ben Johnson's offense. That being said, yeah, Sanders was the better back.....
@kekkomartin5848 No he did not.thats your opinion. I saw Barry Sanders play in college too. And it was a lot of things that he was able to do. That the Lions never took advantage of. I'm telling you Barry Sanders could catch the ball out the backfield with ease.And he was a better pass blocker than people think too. And way more durable. Play for 10 years without getting injured. All that is a plus.
@@kekkomartin5848 Barry Sanders is the greatest college running back, and NFL running back in history. It's not even close.
@@antwandukes Of course it's my opinion. Barry was amazing, but in his prime Billy was something to behold. Just my take is all.
For my entertainment dollar, I'll take Billy Sims over anyone!
The best running back in OU and DETROIT history.. 1st player taken in the draft! Fact!
Too bad he got hurt he was a hell of a player
I remember him as a kid, Billy tearing up my Vikings' D. His career ended way too soon.
Yes he was a hell of a player he would have made the Hall of Fame had he not got injured and lost his career
Great player
He was a better open field runner than Barry Sanders oh how soon we forget I'm 55 and I remember both running backs.
lets not get carried away. I remeber Billy getting tackled in the open field by Hugh Green. Noone could tackle Barry in the open field.
@@UberKrispy Hugh green was a stud linebacker even if it was for 5 minutes but he was a great collegian.
@@UberKrispy Barry used to get tackled from behind often, especially in that gimmick offense they had him playing in. He had to try to outrun a million defensive backs due to that gimmick offense. Lol
Best Detroit back I’ve seen; 1 of best all time backs
I never saw a point in a game where Billy Sims had fewer yards than carries. How many times was Barry Sanders 12 rushes 9 yards or worse? Sure, he busts off a 60-yard highlight reel run but only after 3 or 4 possession-ending RFL?
I love your channel
Amazing Sims piled up yardage in four seasons and never had a TD run longer than 50 yards.
I'm not even a Lions fan, and IMO Billy would have been great if he didn't get injured. Also, I wonder what would have become of Billy's career if he got hurt today. Billy tears ACL career is over, Adrian Peterson tears ACL and runs for 2k yards the next season.
Look up "Kung Fu Billy Sims". Adrian Peterson isnt worthy of carrying Billy's jock strap..lol
Back then an ACL tear was probably career ending, they didn't have the diagnostic machines & surgical techniques that are widely used now.
@@UberKrispy I remember Keith Millard, my Vikings, who was a beast on the D-line in the late 80s. Then tears his ACL in '90 and was never the same. IMO guys like Billy should have been legends.
But, what if Billy never gets hurt and the Lions are a competitive team in the 80s to early 90s. Do they still get Barry? I loved Barry and I'm a Vikings fan.
He was already great before he was injured. He would have been a legend.
I do declare: this deserves 500 likes.
1:40 Hell of a spike
It almost doesn’t make sense. Then I remembered hearing about how hard those old astroturf fields were. Like concrete.
Billy was THE MAN..... If the Lions would have had ANY kind of help for him , he wouldn't have burned out in 5 seasons.
0:29 i saw 3 illegal blocks (by today's standards) on this ONE play!😮😅
Yeah, I caught that too....😂
Many know Gale Sayers had a knee injury that shortened, and effectively ended his career. He is also in the HOF. Sims also suffered a terrible knee injury that ended his career. What I dont understand is Sims gained more yardage on the ground than Sayers and also scored more career TDs, but he is NOT in the HOF. Am I missing something here??
Sayers never even made the playoffs, Sims did.
It’s because he’s black 😂
0:37 just a beautiful block
what a great player saw him get hurt never thought when it happened that would be it for him truly one of the best all time
That Bears game in 1980 made me a Lions fan for life
Billy Sims should be in the Hall of Fame no question
Art in motion
You can tell in each of the 6 touchdowns he gave 110% and was exhausted after every one, he should be in the HOF !
Vicious block against the Chiefs at 0:33! Billy was fast, strong, great at cutting back against the grain. A much more effective receiver than Barry, and it was crazy how he'd run those deep routes from the backfield. A pure football player, and the injury that took it all away was one of the cruelest blows that fate ever dealt to Lions fans.
The 84 yarder @ San Diego?
Nice block on Chiefs run
Yes, at 0:37. It's been a long time since Lions fans have seen so many good downfield blocks.
@@daveconleyportfolio5192 below average QB play in 80 and 81 and the secondary wasn't good. Would kill teams at home then lose by 3 on the road.
Awesome, speed, moves, and, hey, pretty good stiff-arm, eh!!!!!!!
2:42 One of the rare times the Lions fight son "Gridiron Heroes" was played in Wisconsin.
Must be Milwaukee was considered a neutral site game.
He was the hope for kids like me back then. He was fast, strong, flashy, passionate, dynamic... and then it ended as fast as it began. I wonder why the Lions organization behaves as if he never existed. They honored the various #20's, but didn't include him. If they've honored him with past greats, I must've missed it.
HOFer NFL if not injured.
Man, he was special. 🤷🏻♂️👍🏻 My dad was an Oklahoma fan when I was a young lad, so he turned me on to Billy Sims. One of my biggest regrets as a fan was that he didn’t play a full career. 🤷🏻♂️👍🏻
❤billy sim ball
The most talented RB in Detroit Lions history.
Artificial turf ended a lot of careers
Sims was a goal line td machine. Billy would swan dive from 5 yards out into the end zone. Barry came out at the goal line and Tommy Vardell punched it in.
That counter (first play) was nasty.
Such a shame he got injured, he was so fun to watch
If Barry Sanders hadn't come along Billy Sims would still be a household name in Detroit.
Why there no football life on sims nfl dead wrong
AGREED
4th and goal at the one give me billy over walter
Agreed
❤ billy ball: billy sims
Billy Sims most Lions fans thought best running back ever, until Barry Sanders showed up, Either way the Detroit Lions had 2 of the greatest RBs in the history of the NFL.
With all due respect Barry who?
gimme a break
@@UberKrispy You must have never seen Billy Sims for you to say that I've seen more than just a few snippets I've seen his whole career as brief as it was.
@@karlcooper8460 I watched his whole career from his first he in LA against the Rams until he blew.out his.knee 4 years later in Minnesota. He was a great back.
But don't ever say Barry Who.like a numbnut dumb shit
@@UberKrispy Billy was bigger and faster than barry.
Billy was not faster or quicker than Barry. no way Jose.
Billy was a complete back. Had vision, quickness, speed, and was a powerful runner when he wanted/needed to be. Would've been a HOF had he not tore his ACL. IMO I think Billy, when healthy, was a better back than Barry was.
The WRs 1 chance to get even with the DBs was the crack-back block. Sux that they took it away because someone might get hurt on a football field.
#BSimsYo!
Better than Barry. My boyhood hero.
He didn't have a lot of really long runs. His little stride always got him caught..the dbs could close the gap. 😂 But in short yardage plays..nobody could bring him down.
Sims was Barry Sanders before Barry Sanders
Old Billy had a stiff arm. Hopefully he has that fixed in his upper years. Peace out.
Anyone else here because of Kenneth Walker 👊🏈 He clearly is the next Billy Sims- Barry Sanders #20 for both 🤔 Walkers # when he is drafted 👊
Future Green Bay Packer...
Dude scampered
Anyone else watch swift's running style and think of Billy Sims?
No
I love Swift, but he is not even close.
God decided that blessing Detroit with Billy Sims followed by Barry Sanders was so unfair to the rest of the league, that It was only fair to make the lions one of the worst franchises in modern history.
Boomer
In the second run. All those blocks would be illegal today.