Friday is Barry Sanders’ 53rd birthday.
The legendary Detroit Lions running back was born July 16, 1968, and the rest is history. Sanders grew up to become arguably the greatest running back in NFL history. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
HBD to the 🐐‼️@BarrySanders 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Z5RCoD0s1K
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) July 16, 2021
You know what an NFL defender’s greatest fear was back in the day? Being caught in open space with no help and Sanders running right at him.
The NFL had never seen someone so elusive before Sanders played for the Lions and we might never see someone like him again.
Touching him was the most difficult task in the NFL every single season he played. The highlight video below is straight football porn.
The man who dodged defenders like no other.
Happy birthday, @BarrySanders! 🎂 (via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/Ma8eLl2pL4
— NFL (@NFL) July 16, 2021
Unfortunately, the Lions managed to piss away his career just like the franchise did with Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford.
We had arguably the greatest running back and receiver to ever play in the NFL, and didn’t ever even sniff a Super Bowl.
Now, imagine how bad Detroit would have been if Sanders wasn’t on the field. No player in the league was as important to their team as he was to Detroit.
Most elusive ever? Happy 53rd birthday to the great @BarrySanders!
⭐️ 10x Pro Bowler
⭐️ 15,269 rushing yards + 109 total TDs
⭐️ 10 1,000-yard seasons in 10 NFL seasons
⭐️ 1997 NFL MVP (2,053 rushing yards) pic.twitter.com/XhgG47qQRB— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) July 16, 2021
Happy 53rd birthday to the legend! Watching his highlights will never get old.
