Barry Sanders Biography

Occup.	Athlete
From	USA
Born	July 16, 1968
Age	56 years

Early Life and Family
Barry Sanders was born on July 16, 1968, in Wichita, Kansas to William and Shirley Sanders. He was the seventh of eleven children in his family. His father, a carpenter and roofing contractor, and mom, a nurse, were hardworking and really encouraging of their children's education and after-school activities. They always stressed the value of household unity and togetherness. Sanders matured in a caring and close-knit family that supplied him with a strong foundation for his future athletic profession.

High School Years
Sanders participated in Wichita North High School where he started his football career as a running back. In spite of being just 5'8" and 180 pounds, he demonstrated remarkable dexterity and speed on the field. At first, he struggled to earn a starting position on the team, however his consistent effort and determination ultimately settled. He finished his high school profession with remarkable statistics, consisting of more than 1,300 rushing yards and 10 goals in his senior year.

College Career at Oklahoma State University
After high school, Sanders was used a football scholarship to Oklahoma State University (OSU) where he played under head coach Pat Jones. At OSU, he shared the backfield with future NFL star Thurman Thomas and would later on exceed his coach's achievements. In his sophomore and junior years, Sanders developed himself as one of college football's most dominant running backs.

His junior year in 1988 was an innovative season for Sanders. He set numerous NCAA records, consisting of rushing for over 2,600 yards, scoring 39 touchdowns, and collecting over 3,200 all-purpose yards - all within a single season. These impressive records earned him the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best gamer in college football.

NFL Career with the Detroit Lions
After his junior year, Sanders decided to forgo his senior season at OSU and go into the 1989 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 3rd overall choice. Sanders quickly made an effect on the group and became one of the best and most electrifying running backs in NFL history. He bet the Detroit Lions for 10 seasons from 1989 to 1998.

Throughout his NFL profession, Sanders attained numerous notable accomplishments, consisting of leading the league in rushing 4 times and earning the NFL MVP award in 1997. He was a 10-time Pro Bowl choice and a six-time First-Team All-Pro. Sanders was also the 3rd player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season, which he achieved in 1997.

One of Sanders' most impressive achievements was his consistency on the field. He rushed for a minimum of 1,000 backyards in each of his 10 NFL seasons and narrowly missed out on breaking Walter Payton's all-time rushing record.

Retirement and Legacy
In a stunning relocation, Sanders quickly retired from the NFL right before the 1999 season. He was just 31 years old at the time and lots of hypothesized he had several productive years left in his career. In spite of this, Sanders stayed determined about his choice and has actually never gone back to the sport.

In 2004, Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, strengthening his status as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. In addition, his No. 20 jersey was retired by the Detroit Lions.

Since his retirement, Sanders has actually concentrated on various organization ventures and humanitarian activities. He is involved in several charities, including The School Is Cool Foundation, which helps supply computers to impoverished children.

Barry Sanders' influence on the world of sports will constantly be kept in mind for his unbelievable athleticism, sportsmanship, and ability to stay humble regardless of his immense success.

Our collection contains 9 quotes who is written / told by Barry.

Related authors: Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

9 Famous quotes by Barry Sanders

"Shortly after the end of last season, I felt that I probably would not return for the 1999-2000 season. I also felt that I should take as much time as possible to sort through my feelings and make sure that my feelings were backed with conviction"

"Let's just win it and go home"

"I want to thank all of the fans and media who made playing in the NFL such a wonderful experience. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of them"

"Christianity affects your whole life. I feel I'm more competitive, a better player, but off the field is where there is always a battle"

"It was a wonderful experience to play in the NFL, and I have no regrets. I truly will miss playing for the Lions. I consider the Lions' players, coaches, staff, management and fans my family. I leave on good terms with everyone in the organization"

"I wish my teammates, coaches and the entire Lions organization all the best"

"I quit because I didn't feel like the Detroit Lions had a chance to win. It just killed my enjoyment of the game"

"The game is the ultimate significance to me because it is so important to a lot of people. It has left a mark on our culture to be voted as one of the best to ever play"

"My desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. I have searched my heart through and through and feel comfortable with this decision"