If he had Cowboys or 49ers team he would probably have 2000 yards every season and 8 super bowl rings. He literally took the lions to the NFC Championship by himself
Barry once explained that he grew up playing touch football, and he learned quickly that, if a guy doesn't touch him, he also cannot tackle him. Made a career out of making people miss. Now we all miss him.
Barry was the sickest combination of speed and agility. His ability to plant, juke, change direction and then accelerate is something I’ve never seen from any other player. On top of that, he was strong as hell. The guy broke tackles as much as he avoided them. And all while being probably the classiest player the league has ever had. True legend.
He was so strong that tacklers would just slide off of him. The power he had in his lower body was unreal. He gets attention for his agility and all that, but he'd slip tackles from people all the time like they weren't even there.
The only other player I saw with a similar run style, albeit to a lesser extent of course was Eric Metcalf who rarely gets much attention. But even though Metcalf had very similar moves and running style he was no Barry as Barry was just a level beyond anything else by far. Outside of those two guys though I have never seen another runner be able to do all those things consistently.
As a Lions fan born in 97, I never had the chance to see Barry play. I finally decided to educate myself since I realized I had never really sat down and watched film on him. The way he hit holes (if there was one) and accelerated blows my mind. And that’s just the beginning. Watching the NFL today I realize Barry is timeless and would be the best back in any era. Best of all time.
@J. A. The Lions organization was and is garbage. What they did to Sanders and Megatron is inexcusable. Fontes didn't put him in because he was bad-minded. Barry came with superhuman stats from college and it wasn't like they didn't know that. Lions organization gets no love from me.
No one past, present or future will come close to the talent, sportsmanship and over all class this man possessed. When asked why he doesn’t spike the ball or celebrates in the end zone he replied “Because I plan on doing this again.”
@@macortiz8260 Walter Payton. Roberto Clemente,Chris Long.and the list goes on...I love Barry and understand the adoration,but don't make it seem like he was the only one.
Handed the ball to the referee after every touchdown. There's no point in celebrating when you know you're going to score again in the not too distant future.
Pat Summerall was a great man. Such a great family. Now look at his daughter! Going to be the White House Chief of Staff under the most important presidency since the turn of the century
Steven Watchorn and how I use to laugh when I saw that ... no body remembers the play offs against San Fan ... they almost went to the SuperBowl that year ... Eddie Murray misses a field goal ...... DAMMIT!
Peete knew that Barry had an open field to the goal line and only one defender to beat. The only way Barry was not going to score was if he slipped on some loose turf.
Don't forget dogged determination. That guy gave absolutely one hundred percent every single play, scrapping for every inch possible. If I may also throw in a team first attitude, and took care of the ball exceptionally well, fumbling rarely.
I'm 45 and have been a diehard Packers fan my entire life. He's the only player that I hoped would do well against my team. He was by far the funnest player to watch. He is hands down, no questions asked, the best to ever play the game.
Thank you, very much, for saying that. I'm in Michigan and the Lions are my team, but Barry Sanders was bigger to me than football has ever been. He made me HAPPY! Even today, the joy I have in watching these clips just squirts out my eyes and runs down my face. My God, he was a gift.
Barry Sanders is hands down the greatest running back to ever play in the NFL. His burst off the line of scrimmage was insane,then his ability to make cuts once he reached the second level of the defense was quick and decisive. His speed in the open field and upper body strength to shed tacklers is what made him a complete back! Barry Sanders had legs the size of tree trunks! The guy was an absolute beast,and the best to ever do It!
He's made a lot of hall of fame defenders look like amateurs. I don't think the NFL has ever seen a RB with this level of talent, ever. Not even Bo Jackson. Bo had the size and top speed, but Barry had it all.
Lol. Dude! I was gonna say something like that. It's like he's got robot legs with 360 degree articulation at every joint. And 0 to 60 or 60 to 0 at any moment.
@@lloydkline1518 he did that several times. He's a humble man that could have beat the all time rushing record but didn't because he wasn't about that. Every player will have haters. Football hasn't been the same without him. Make the NFL great again!!
Barry is the reason why I became a football fan way back in the day!!, and a lions fan from Boston!!, I remember being sad and shocked when he retired after nine years, but in retrospect it was the smart thing to do, without a doubt he was the G.O.A.T running back!!
I remember lineman saying "you don't have to chase Barry because he will end up coming back to you" with all his weaving around. The most respected player of all time. No celebrating just hand the ball to the ref and go back to the sideline. Awesome
I watched a video a couple days ago of the top ten running backs of all time. Barry Sanders had replaced Walter Payton as number one. Congrats Barry Sanders and thank you for the memories. You were the best!
@@yourztruly9287 idk… Bo ram the 40 in under 4.2 and was stronger than the linebackers trying to tackle him… Sanders ram the 40 in street clothes and tennis shoes without a warm up and still ran in under 4.4. Both Bo and Sanders were all pro athletes in 2(!!) sports… sanders was an amazing running back but I wouldn’t put him ahead of Bo or Sanders…
I like how on 5 Rodney Peete raises his arms in the touchdown formation while Barry still has to run 20 yards and break 4 tackles. 😂 That’s how I remember it. We always expected he would score every play he had any space at all.
Being born in 1980, when i was a kid one of my favorite days every year was gathering at grandma's house out in the country for a Thanksgiving feast every year and my dad, uncles, cousins and myself and 3 brothers would gather in the living room to watch the Lions and Barry Sanders put magic in our hearts every year. Not to mention John Madden and Pat Summerall calling the games. Those are some of the fondest memories I have as a youngster. Especially during these tough times we are facing in 2020 this video really did put a nostalgic smile on my face. So thank you for that! Barry will always be one of the greatest to ever play the game!
Yeah man, house smelling like Thanksgiving dinner and you were just waiting for Barry to do something incredible. I'd go out in the yard afterwards and try emulate his moves. Some of my fondest memories too. So grateful I got to watch this guy play the game.
Born same year and same thing. Not only Barry, but the powerhouse Cowboys to follow. I hated Cowboys, but still appreciate how awesome that doubleheader was. Year and year out, it will be hard to ever top again.
Well let me put it this way, Eric Dickerson had a smoother run, and he definitely was a faster runner than Barry, and mind you, Dickerson was 6'3" but Barry was hands down the most elusive runner the game has seen, the only other player that even remotely came close to Barry's elusiveness was Gale Sayers
@Trophy Stackin I know I was just pointing out the crazy runs where I think he got caught because of stamina. I'd give Barry a 92 in speed, but a 99 in acceleration and agility.
I’ve had people say emmit smith and L Tomlinson are better….. L is HOF I won’t lie but not Barry levels of good… And Emmit Smith………. Bruh he literally admitted himself that he’s nothing compared to Barry
@@lionguy8959Barry would've had the record in the time he played with what Emmitt had in front of him. I know of at least 8 that were better than he was, and LT was one. Emmitt is 9 or 10. Dickerson, OJ, Faulk, Sayers, and probably AP outside Sanders, Payton and Brown.
Try watching Gale Sayers. Even people who don't care about sports find his runs great art. I remember watching "Brian's Song" in middle school gym class (it was during a tropical storm) and girls who didn't know or care anything about football were actually tearing up watching his highlights as well as during the ending.
I am too young to have ever seen him play, but watching these highlights, I can't help but be amazed. The defenders are world class athletes who train their entire lives to be able to make tackles and keep up with a RB, and spend days each week studying opponents on film frame by frame. But when Sanders runs he makes them look like children. It feels like I'm watching a movie that people would say is unrealistic. There are only a handful of athletes ever who are so stunning in this way.
Barry played for the worst franchise of all time and I'm from Michigan. He had little to no support or blocking and still managed to be amazing. It makes me happy to see people in your generation appreciating him bc he was something truly amazing to watch.
You nailed it young man....he had the ability to make professionals look like amateurs. He did all that when the Lions' executives didn't invest in a line at all, and the team rarely had a deep threat. Defenses often played heavy in the box because there was no reason not to....and yet the man still accomplished all that he did. He was truly amazing, both on and off the field. He is the Michael Jordan of the RB position, and always had more class.
Not only a great back, but one hell of a sportsman. Don't remember a single endzone celebration from the man. Absolute Class act and someone young players should emulate...
Barry is so good you can entertain non-football and non-sports fans with his highlights. That's a transcendence very few human beings reach in any respected genre, let alone sports.
@@xpkresxlost2264 Not really. Since we're talking highlights, Jordan probably counts, and maybe Tiger Woods. But Ali, some NASCAR legend, tennis greats - if you're not into the sport, you won't really recognize the greatness; you're still just dodging and dancing, you're still just go around in circles, or knocking the ball back and forth. But everyone gets and can see "the ones not wearing blue are trying to stop 20, the guy with the ball" because we've all run and been chased or chased someone ourselves. And you can plain as day SEE that 20 can run like no one else. Really, the only person I can think of that has a similar transcending effect is (was) Robin Williams.
Put some respect on Adrian Peterson's name. Barry is the GOAT, hands down, and I'm a Lions fan, but A.D. was an absolute beast. Certainly the best of the generation after Barry, along with L.T. Although I'd bet my bank account they both had a heck of a lot more help up front than Barry ever did.
@@1TotalJabroni - much respect to both guys mentioned AP and LT who were absolutely great but I believe he is referring to running style. I find it funny how people always try to say Shady runs like Barry. It was just something about Barry's low center of gravity and quickness that can't be duplicated. Defenders always talked about how powerful he ran. Not in the sense of running you over but having to try to tackle someone so short, compact and quick was so hard when you are 6ft 2" 250 pounds. AP was a tall runner and very strong with speed which made him a nightmare but Barry was just on a different level.
Bro you should be mad he almost went to the packers but they chose a lineman who ended up being a bust even I'm mad because while I like the lions barry never had the Career he should've had
@@sourpatch4209 trust me, not taking Barry Sanders is without a doubt the biggest mistake the Packers ever made... yeah i feel bad that he didnt get some rings he deserved, but if i was a lions fan, i would still love the fact i would have bragging rights to say i had a top five running back in the entire nfl history...
Aneya Slimm no he wasn’t! He was a terrible pass blocker, he could never get short tough yards, he was ineffective in the red zone, he was taken out of the game on the goal line, he was not a leader, he routinely quit on his football team, he wasn’t a big game player, he wasn’t a tough player. Barry was a highlight runner. That gets you good stats and fans, but it doesn’t win you games. Emmitt > Barry by a lot!!!
@@357twilson when you ARE the team, you are the leader...it's leading by example...Emmitt's team was also a tad better...he literally ran behind the best OL in history...tho the Lions OL wasn't as bad as people make out. 5 yards a carry for 10 years...
his trademark jukes were so good, but his vision might be the best the league will ever see. The holes he spotted sometimes were barely there and he somehow found his way through them without missing a step or even brushing against anyone. He is the best halfback this game will ever see, without question.
He woulda had 100 if Herman Moore blocked that safety against the Bears on his longest run 90 plus without a td at 04:50 also holding penalties negated at least a couple Baker dozens
In the 90s when the Lions were on tv and had the ball everyone with a remote interest on football would be glued to the set in anticipation of the next Barry carry
Exactly, there's never been another running back that would have EVERYBODY stop watching their team, and change the channel just to watch this man run, NO OTHER RB PERIOD!!!
@@Chrisinthecivic im a steeler fan die hard and bell is awesome but barry is in another league altogether. I watched him be all defenses nightmare including steelers all those years.
Exactly Todd. He was the football version of Tiger or MJ. If the Redzone channel existed back then they'd have cut to him every time he touched the ball, regardless of field position.
My favorite thing about Barry Sanders, you never seen celebrating the end zone. They asked him why once and he said, because I've been there before.... Classy dude
A theory I've heard is this: he Always handed the ball to an official after scoring a TD. He didn't spike it; he didn't celebrate; he didn't do all those TO bullshit, showboating "look at me" things. The biggest insult for a defense was when he just handed the ball to the ref. It was his insulting way, to the defense, to say FU, y'all couldn't stop me. Love HOF 1st ballot Barry Sanders.
Best damn running back ever! No Showboat, no dancing no singing, stayed humble went out and played for his teammates and had an amazing career. Nobody else has become a highlight reel like that man, that played on a team that rarely made the playoffs. I love living in Detroit and going to watch that man play, he is amazing!
@@dme1016 you have no idea what you're talking about. Look at the history of each player, then look at the history of the teams they were on at that time. Then, you'll have a better understanding. I'll say it again, best running back ever!
@@michaelperkins3003 2nd best, behind Barry. And I'm Barry's age, so I saw things in real time. Barry sometimes looked bored on the sidelines. Walter inspired. And you can say it all you want.... I know better, mufukah.
@@dme1016 his performance on the field proved otherwise just because he's not a big cheerleader on the side doesn't mean he's not dedicated and involved. Probably trying to figure out how the hell are we going to win this game!
There is no question that Barry Sanders is the all time best running back to ever play the game. A running back with no offensive line to block for him, and the amount of yards that he accumulated over his career is unheard of. Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher in the NFL., with 18,355 yards playing 15 years in the NFL. Barry Sanders has 15,269 all-time career yards with only 10 NFL seasons. Emmitt Smith had a monster offensive line to block for him. So you play five more seasons than Barry Sanders and only beat him by 3,086 yards. Barry Sanders could have had that in the next two seasons that's why I consider him the best running back to ever play the game.
He had some good offensive lines, too. Tackle Lomas Brown (3X All-Pro) and Center Kevin Glover (4X All-Pro) were stars. Mike Utley and Eric Andolsek were strong guards. Regrettably one was paralyzed and the other killed by a truck in his front year. Others like Bill Fralic passed through.
@@tomconstance2391 Cmon man...Lomas was all pro for his pass blocking. Glover I will give you. I wouldn't exactly call Utley and Andolsek "strong" Barry's lines were average at the absolute best. Pretty big difference between that and arguably the greatest line of all time Smith played behind.
I am a huge Die Hard Chicago Bears fan, And I know people will say how could I say Barry Sanders is better than Walter Payton. Barry Sanders is the best running back that ever lived. Love to Watch Walter Payton play in the 80s when I was a kid, but I have to give it to Barry Sanders hands down. The guy was pure Magic.
I think walter was better all around with blocking ect but Barry is the better back with the ball in his hands. Both are #1 #2 in my book. I think emmitt is overrated
What he did to your Bears on Thanksgiving '96, he should be prosecuted for. Straight up murdered that entire defense, for 60 minutes. As a tortured Lions fan, it may be my fondest football memory Hell, I'm from Oxford Mississippi. Never been within 250 miles of the city of Detroit, let alone the state of Michigan. My 1st memory of football period, was Barry Sanders shredding GB on Sunday night football. Been a die hard Lions fan since that day. May God have mercy on my soul lol
Sean Clark: I am right there with you. I am a lifelong Bucs fan, look at how many of these highlights are against us. He once ran two 80+ yard TD's against us in one game, I think that's still the only time it's ever been done. We did hold him to 20 yards once though.
Elthenar , the only man I think that might have rivaled or been better than Barry Sanders if he would have had a full career, is Bo Jackson I was really young when he was playing but he was Unreal too.
Undeniable talent. There is nothing bad you can say about his game. He would dominate in any era. Watching Barry play was equivalent to the first time I ever heard the music of The Doors. Perfection in every sense of the word. A truly magical experience. A ballet of genius.
@Lighthouse in the Storm aye, you obviously weren't alive then. emmitt's #'s seem paltry despite his monster oline. barry would have had 7-8 2000+ yard seasons behind that line. and cowboys would have won even more superbowls during the 90's
It's the same with Calvin Johnson. If either one had a championship team behind them it would have been a guaranteed winner everytime. And yes, I am a lifelong Detroit fan.
After all the football I watched in the 40 years I've been alive still to this day I have never seen a running back do the things B. Sanders could do. #GOAT OF RUNNING BACKS.!!!!!!
I just want to let the young people who are commenting on here to understand something. These are some of Barrys 50 highlights somebody put up. These are the times the offense line actually blocked. I watched every game Barry played and 75% of the time he had no blocking and made great runs. Every other great running back you can name had a good or great offense line they played on. Barry played on a horrible team and if he didn't retire early because he got tired of the Lions front office he would have the most yards ever in football.
Agreed, Robert. How many times did we see Barry get the ball four yards behind the line of scrimmage with three defenders right in front of him, and still get three or four positive yards out of it? Countless hundreds of times. The best ever.
Lions had two pro-bowl OL's in the Barry Sanders era. Lomas Brown and Kevin Glover were credited for Sanders early success Aswell as Jerry Ball all-star one year. Let's not over do it with the "No o-line at all" ..wasnt like he was Earl Campbell on the Saints or Blair Thomas with the Jets..those were border line ASSAULTS
Barry Sanders is the most sensational player I ever watched with my own two eyes. He had virtually no talent around him and every week, teams did everything they could to stop him. It was impossible. You can’t game plan for Barry. You can’t simulate Barry. He was truly electrifying, and it was an honor growing up to watch him play.
That's why I think he was better than Jim Brown. Jim Brown had much better stats but I'm thinking he was able to do that because he had a better team to work with.
He had 3 pro bowlers on the line and the best fullback to ever play the game. You can tell most of you NEVER studied the game. Ignorant comments on here
When I was growing up, you were a fan of the hometown team. There just wasn't any two ways around it. So being from Detroit, well, the Lions were my team, and as anybody from Detroit can tell you, there isn't a fan base more abused and taken for granted than Lion's fans. Watching the Lions, rooting and cheering for the Lions, was an exercise in frustration if not self-flagellation. In all those years, and I'm talking 40 plus years, there was only one redeeming fact about the Detroit Lions, and that was Barry Sanders. He was the greatest that ever carried a football, he made you forget about the score of the game or the won-loss record, none of that mattered when Barry went off on one of those crazy runs. And to top it off, he was a class act, a real gentleman. You can say that the Lions didn't deserve him, but the Lions fans did, and he was greatly appreciated for bringing a little sunshine to an otherwise dark place.
Well said, but sadly, I believe this is ultimately what led to his early retirement. He stayed for the love of the fans, but the management would not pay to put a real team around him while the fans were buying tickets just to watch him.
That’s how I felt about Sosa being a die hard Cubs fan as a kid. You showed up just to watch him hit towering home runs. But I’m sure you know how that ended. At least they won a Series. But by then I would call myself a die hard but rather a casual fan at that point. Barry Sanders was the man.
@@jjprulz As a Lions fan, The Fords are such horrible owners! Well Martha is doing better then William ever did. But the NFL owners never showed love to our Lions, How can we build a contending team if the refs are just take games from us. The Lions are the most hated team to the refs.
I'm only 24 and finally getting back into NFL (go G-Men) but I had to go into some history. Never almost became teary-eyed watching someone like this play football, and reading the comments at the same time. What a Legend. Respectful, tactful, I mean true definition of all-american.
Every once in a while I watch some barry sanders highlights just to remind myself there’s ZERO running backs that have been like him since he retired. He’s hands down the best running back ever. 3/4’s of these plays 100% of the running backs playing today couldn’t make.
@@enmitygauged44 actually if you listen carefully most of these plays were draw plays. They ran the Run and Shoot passing scheme so their focus wasn’t running the ball. Average line size was undersized too for that reason (something like 265 lbs. or so). That’s why Barry had to make stuff up to create his own holes so to speak. I think it’s just coincidental that you see the highlights against Tampa.
His skill was just on another level. My old roommate watched him playing basketball in the off season in the Detroit area. At 5'6" he could do a 360 dunk. EASILY! That puts his vertical over 40 inches. He had powerful legs, but used his strength to make guys miss. Seldom was he ever tackled squarely. They talked about dual defenders boxing him into a a space the size of a phone booth, and he jukes his way out of it barely touched. He is the GOAT no doubt. It was much watch TV for 10 years. Sure was fun watching him play. Put that guy on modern turf every game and it would have been even more impressive.
Absolutely concurr! If there was anyone I liked to watch more than Walter Payton, it would be this man. EASILY the all-time rushing leader, and never to be matched, if not for two things (in my opinion): 1. I truly believe that he respected Walter Payton, who was dying of liver and bile duct cancer at the time. 2. But probably more relevant, Barry wanted a Ring; the rushing titles were literally a means to an end. He felt that, after failure to acquire and keep certain personnel, the Lions as a club weren't committed to getting to the Big Game. After putting forth and leaving it all out on the field so much over the years, he probably realized that he wouldn't have the same opportunity that Walter eventually got at the end of his career: a chance to play in the championship. Sanders: simply the best.
I also wanted to comment on your take on his physical capabilities: spot on! Because of his leg strength, Sanders could literally accelerate into a slash-cut, which would, and did, totally destroy the knees of other runners (see Gayle Sayers, and Seahawk running great Kurt Warner). I've NEVER seen a runner besides Sanders run virtually parallel to the line of scrimmage, cut and explode upfield, not only without slowing down, but accelerate...
This video of Barry Sanders is a gem. Never watched the Detroit Lions. So wonderful to view some of his phenomenal runs now. Thank you for sharing this remarkable man's running accomplishments. Really. I said Wow Wow and WOW! so much.
Jason McIntyre considering TB was horrible early in his career after 1996 Barry didn't dominate the bucs once the bucs got a defense. Sapp brooks lynch barber etc. Bucs beat lions in 1997 playoffs believe Barry was almost a non factor that game
JDBass36 Sanders had his best games against that Tampa defence in its prime. Lions might of lost of playoff game to them. However when Tampa had Sapp Lynch- Brooks- in their prime. Samders dominated them. Made 'em look like fools. I was at the games here in Tampa. Simeon Rice said "Barry ran over me like I was a little girl" videos #4 #6# 8 are against that Buc defence in its prime. Two of them in the same game in Tampa. I was there on the 40 yard line.
Stephens Dygert lions didn't win much vs bucs Def but overall Barry would be stuffed all game then break a 65 yard run to inflate his yardage, still a dam beast Making something out of nothing
@Jack Trippin777 i think it was more QB play. Although, Herman Moore was a x4 pro bowl WR with 7 900+ yard seasons (4 of which were over 1000) while Barry was there, Qb play was generally not good. One could argue that Herman was a probowler becuase Teams stacked the box trying to stop Barry. Year after Barry retired, Herman had another 900 yard season, but the wheels fell off after that.
I'm watching the Lions vs Raiders Monday Night Football, and made me think of the greatest Running back ever, The GOAT, BARRY SANDERS #20 and I'm a Broncos fan. My respect and admiration.
T. Mills They aren't going to show the plays that the line caved in and he was caught in the backfield on a highlight reel. If he had Emmett Smith's line there wouldn't have ever been a comparison between the two.
Barry juked all over the field because that's just his running style. He's the all-time leader in lost yardage because he ran backwards juking instead of settling for a one yard gain or a one yard loss. I'd pick Barry over Emmitt 10 outta 10 times, but many people act like Barry would have been easily averaging 2500+ rushing yards a season with the Dallas line. I just don't believe that. You guys overrate Barry because of his o-line, and you guys underrate Emmitt because of his.
T. Mills If you watch the video you will see Barry run right thru the hole if his o- line would give him one. No juking. I could say that since I'm from Minnesota that Adrian Peterson is the GOAT. He had more power and speed than Barry but Barry had heart and yeah he lost some yards but he didn't take the big hits because of it. Barry is the GOAT.
Insane! Play #1 even his own teammates are confused with his moves. Everyone jumping to the ground in case was fumble, and Barry was already 10 yards ahead running alone… what a great human being and what a big pride for Lions heritage !!!!
I miss Barry, and I'm a Steelers fan. So glad that Im old enough to remember watching him do it. A true marvel. Best ever. Its a shame that he never got to win a ring.
Saw Barry being interviewed, and it jogged my memory. I always said he was far and away the best running back I ever saw, but then I wondered if maybe it was me building him up in my mind more than he was. This video was perfect to remind me that I was right. Spectacular, amazing, and even now I am sitting with my heart pumping after so many, "OMG!" coming out of my mouth! THANK YOU for this video.
He was the best. The stats don't tell the story of how great he was. He came out of the game in the 4th anytime the lions were way up to give backups a chance and the Lions didn't want to risk injuring him for no reason. Also.....He would come out in 4th quarter of many games when the Lions were down a bundle and had to score quickly and often. So no real garbage eating up the clock in the 4th quarter when the defense is tired kind of yards.....which happen to account for many yards of the other great back of time Emmit Smith.
Barry Sanders did more with less than any running back in NFL history. In my opinion, the best ever.
skinsman82000 exactly his o-line and QBs were horrible. He had to do it all by himself.
If he had Cowboys or 49ers team he would probably have 2000 yards every season and 8 super bowl rings. He literally took the lions to the NFC Championship by himself
Fact.
@@mattgmoney69thegoat69 Even his blockers going down the field with him. Like, wtf are you doing?! Lol
MattGMoney 69TheGoat his o line wasn’t horrible. QBs always were. O line wasn't as great as what emmit had, but they were not horrible
Barry once explained that he grew up playing touch football, and he learned quickly that, if a guy doesn't touch him, he also cannot tackle him. Made a career out of making people miss.
Now we all miss him.
He is not dead
@@swehdy-fan0732 He meant that we miss him playing in the NFL
If only his son showed the same prospect that he did. But you can't make someone love the game the way Barry did.
street ball
it was flag football.
Barry was the sickest combination of speed and agility. His ability to plant, juke, change direction and then accelerate is something I’ve never seen from any other player. On top of that, he was strong as hell. The guy broke tackles as much as he avoided them. And all while being probably the classiest player the league has ever had. True legend.
He was so strong that tacklers would just slide off of him. The power he had in his lower body was unreal. He gets attention for his agility and all that, but he'd slip tackles from people all the time like they weren't even there.
Accurate comments throughout.
Well said!!!!!!!!
The only other player I saw with a similar run style, albeit to a lesser extent of course was Eric Metcalf who rarely gets much attention. But even though Metcalf had very similar moves and running style he was no Barry as Barry was just a level beyond anything else by far. Outside of those two guys though I have never seen another runner be able to do all those things consistently.
I felt that. Well said brother well said.
To me. Barry is the most sensational man to ever hold a football
Yes sir
and a honestly good man. humble to a fault.
What about randy moss
Agreed
the most exciting back! he was my guy since i am from Michigan!
If the horse collar rule was in effect while Barry Sanders was playing, he may have never gotten tackled.
Lol exactly every big run people had to horse collar to get him that’s how fast he was
It's amazing he never got seriously hurt
Facts
Came here to day the same thing!
Wow so true!!
As a Lions fan born in 97, I never had the chance to see Barry play. I finally decided to educate myself since I realized I had never really sat down and watched film on him. The way he hit holes (if there was one) and accelerated blows my mind. And that’s just the beginning. Watching the NFL today I realize Barry is timeless and would be the best back in any era. Best of all time.
Hes the reason i became a Lions fan as a kid.
He really didn't have a line a couple of years
@J. A. The Lions organization was and is garbage. What they did to Sanders and Megatron is inexcusable. Fontes didn't put him in because he was bad-minded. Barry came with superhuman stats from college and it wasn't like they didn't know that. Lions organization gets no love from me.
Exactly!
@@dmvbay2535 Exactly!!!
Never show boated
Never danced
Never slowed down before he crossed the goal line
Never spiked the ball
Never taunted his opponent
#goat
Well said!
He was total class
No one past, present or future will come close to the talent, sportsmanship and over all class this man possessed. When asked why he doesn’t spike the ball or celebrates in the end zone he replied “Because I plan on doing this again.”
@@macortiz8260 Walter Payton. Roberto Clemente,Chris Long.and the list goes on...I love Barry and understand the adoration,but don't make it seem like he was the only one.
Handed the ball to the referee after every touchdown. There's no point in celebrating when you know you're going to score again in the not too distant future.
Barry Sanders + Madden & Pat Summerall commentary = Epic 90s nostalgia. Good times
Definitely it was good hearing Madden on the last clip
John was getting a good lather talking about... signs? lol
@CarlNipmuc me too man.
The old 90s Madden Football video games - using Barry Sanders was basically Neo doing godlike moves while everyone else is stuck standing still.
Pat Summerall was a great man. Such a great family. Now look at his daughter! Going to be the White House Chief of Staff under the most important presidency since the turn of the century
I watch his highlights every 6 months or so just to remind myself how ridiculously great this guy was. Almost unreal.
I watch them every 6 days! lol :)
DMV📍💯
The human joystick is the only other hoodini I’ve seen play football with that type of agility and allusiveness. But he was only a great returner
You too!
fax
8:20 I love how Peete is signalling touchdown when Sanders is at the 25, because he just knew.
FACTSS!!!!!!
Steven Watchorn and how I use to laugh when I saw that ... no body remembers the play offs against San Fan ... they almost went to the SuperBowl that year ... Eddie Murray misses a field goal ...... DAMMIT!
Peete knew that Barry had an open field to the goal line and only one defender to beat. The only way Barry was not going to score was if he slipped on some loose turf.
Lolol
LOL. 😁😁😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Balance, vision, acceleration, deceleration, redirection, lateral speed, top speed, power and will. He had it all.
And tree trunks for legs. He was not human
Don't forget dogged determination. That guy gave absolutely one hundred percent every single play, scrapping for every inch possible. If I may also throw in a team first attitude, and took care of the ball exceptionally well, fumbling rarely.
The one thing that I think put Barry on top is his acceleration. From 0- full speed in like 5 steps is just insane. Just crazy.......
His top speed was not the best
sevenrats so perfectly said. There will never be another Barry
I'm 45 and have been a diehard Packers fan my entire life. He's the only player that I hoped would do well against my team. He was by far the funnest player to watch. He is hands down, no questions asked, the best to ever play the game.
Thank you, very much, for saying that. I'm in Michigan and the Lions are my team, but Barry Sanders was bigger to me than football has ever been. He made me HAPPY! Even today, the joy I have in watching these clips just squirts out my eyes and runs down my face. My God, he was a gift.
Bro what? Clearly not a Packer fan if you wish other players do well against your team lol
Barry Sanders is hands down the greatest running back to ever play in the NFL. His burst off the line of scrimmage was insane,then his ability to make cuts once he reached the second level of the defense was quick and decisive. His speed in the open field and upper body strength to shed tacklers is what made him a complete back! Barry Sanders had legs the size of tree trunks! The guy was an absolute beast,and the best to ever do It!
FACTS
He is a beast
I’d put AP a distant 2nd
I seen Barry Sanders up close in person the man is tiny. But his legs were huge!!!
strength, acceleration, speed, agility, vision. TOTAL package.
The greatest of all time. A legend. And a class act. My favorite player of all time too.
absolutely a class act. every time he scored he didn't "celebrate" like the jackasses do.
You will find very few who dislike Barry Sanders
Barry is legendary and epic, but you still gotta give Bo Jackson his due deference...
If he was the greatest of all time hed be the all time rushing leader lol get ya knowledge up buddy... still top 5
@TheWhiteWhale cause its convenient
Barry's hips, knees, and feet could all go in opposite directions of each other at any speed. Never anyone like him before or since. The GOAT.
He's made a lot of hall of fame defenders look like amateurs. I don't think the NFL has ever seen a RB with this level of talent, ever. Not even Bo Jackson. Bo had the size and top speed, but Barry had it all.
He was a human chess piece, calculating every juke. I miss football of the 90s , make the NFL great again!!
Lol. Dude! I was gonna say something like that. It's like he's got robot legs with 360 degree articulation at every joint. And 0 to 60 or 60 to 0 at any moment.
Barry sander couldn't jump over goal line:: Barry sander hands; butterfinger
@@lloydkline1518 he did that several times. He's a humble man that could have beat the all time rushing record but didn't because he wasn't about that. Every player will have haters. Football hasn't been the same without him. Make the NFL great again!!
Barry is the reason why I became a football fan way back in the day!!, and a lions fan from Boston!!, I remember being sad and shocked when he retired after nine years, but in retrospect it was the smart thing to do, without a doubt he was the G.O.A.T running back!!
I remember lineman saying "you don't have to chase Barry because he will end up coming back to you" with all his weaving around. The most respected player of all time. No celebrating just hand the ball to the ref and go back to the sideline. Awesome
Indy Custom Made true indeed..
Thats what they said but the video proves, that is a lie.
I watched a video a couple days ago of the top ten running backs of all time. Barry Sanders had replaced Walter Payton as number one. Congrats Barry Sanders and thank you for the memories. You were the best!
John Mcgee in human no gainers
You are 100% right! !!
Dude rushed for over 15,000 yards in only 10 seasons. The GOAT
Wow
Also he was on the worst team in the nfl
He lead the league in lost yardage alot, makes it more impressive
@@alexfleming6304 Yes....100% . Led league in yards and lost yards one year I believe. My favourite player ever.
@@jarrettpeters6225Nah, the worst teams back then was the Bengals and the Patriots.
I watched this with the biggest smile on my face, the greatest back in history.
Imagine if he would have played for a real team. Or had a real Q.B
Or Imagine him lined up behind Mike Vic or Aaron Rodgers?
Or That Nate Newton & Larry Allen offensive line Emmitt Smith Had.
Melvin S bro they would be unstoppable
No super bowl appearances. What a ba-deck!
Never once celebrated a touchdown...I'm a giants fan since I was born and I'm 32 but there is no better player in the world than Barry sanders
The 90's. The Decade of the GOAT athlete. Not merely great players, but once-in-a-generation legends and some of the best ever.
Would you say he’s a better athlete than Deion sanders or Bo Jackson?
Easy
@@yourztruly9287 idk… Bo ram the 40 in under 4.2 and was stronger than the linebackers trying to tackle him… Sanders ram the 40 in street clothes and tennis shoes without a warm up and still ran in under 4.4. Both Bo and Sanders were all pro athletes in 2(!!) sports… sanders was an amazing running back but I wouldn’t put him ahead of Bo or Sanders…
You can see the magic. Adrian and only a few others have ever had the complete package…well, close to complete. Not only rb’s in NFL but all sports
Facts
What’s even more amazing is that he’s doing this to elite athletes.
Im a big cowboys fan, love Emmitt but Barry is hands down the best ever. Imagine him behind that line Dallas had.
Barry Sanders was the human pinball machine. Nuff said.
Exactly!!!
@LeGOAT Jordan HAHAHA!!! 😁😁😁😂😂🤣🤣
@@dmvbay2535 Truly!
I've been saying that for 20somtn yrs. Thank you
Legend has it that #75 is still looking for Barry to this very day.
Lmaooo from the cowboys…..I heard his kids does the same thing to him now
💀💀💀💀💀
Love play #5 where Peete signals touchdown when Barry is at the 25 yard line.
I noticed that too! 😂 He still had another several guys to burn and tackles to break, but he did it!
Reminds me of the Splash Bro's
I put barry sanders up with Michael Jordan as the athletes that had me in awe when I watched them as a kid.
Clearly the best running back I ever saw.
My dad watched like 45 straight seasons of the NFL talked about Barry A lot so I wanted to look his highlights up. This man is a absolute legend
You haven't seen Walter Payton...
@@senturion417 Barry over Payton any day
WILT, WILT, WILT, WILT!!!! NO CONTEST!!
@@senturion417 not even on the same level with barry. period.
I like how on 5 Rodney Peete raises his arms in the touchdown formation while Barry still has to run 20 yards and break 4 tackles. 😂 That’s how I remember it. We always expected he would score every play he had any space at all.
After he saw Barry with open space he knew instantly
Damn I’m just now in tuned with this guy ,Barry . Born 1998 😭😂🙌🏾
I remember hearing Madden say, "Barry will make you look like you were out drinking all night."
Good ol Madden...🤣
I miss Madden!!!
Hahaha! That’s a great quote.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Lol
You'll never see anyone play in the same level as Barry Sanders ever again.
McCoy was the closest
@@spittaz1 nah, walter payton and ladainian were
@@clayter222 I'm talking about elusiveness. Those other guys were power backs
Never
That's because everyone now either runs out of bounds or tries trucking you over I miss the old school elusive style of running
Being born in 1980, when i was a kid one of my favorite days every year was gathering at grandma's house out in the country for a Thanksgiving feast every year and my dad, uncles, cousins and myself and 3 brothers would gather in the living room to watch the Lions and Barry Sanders put magic in our hearts every year. Not to mention John Madden and Pat Summerall calling the games. Those are some of the fondest memories I have as a youngster. Especially during these tough times we are facing in 2020 this video really did put a nostalgic smile on my face. So thank you for that! Barry will always be one of the greatest to ever play the game!
I was born in the same year and couldn't agree with you more. Truly once in a lifetime player!
Definitely bring a smile to your face he really was that GUY💯💪🏾💯
Well said.
Yeah man, house smelling like Thanksgiving dinner and you were just waiting for Barry to do something incredible. I'd go out in the yard afterwards and try emulate his moves. Some of my fondest memories too. So grateful I got to watch this guy play the game.
Born same year and same thing. Not only Barry, but the powerhouse Cowboys to follow. I hated Cowboys, but still appreciate how awesome that doubleheader was. Year and year out, it will be hard to ever top again.
I'm a Brit. Started liking NFL in the early 80's (yeah, I'm that old). But I have never seen a better pure runner than Barry in the NFL.
As a fellow Brit in the mid 2000s, it was seeing runs of Barry that got me following this game. For that, he'll always be my No1 sporting idol
It was like he had a gyroscope built in.
You should look at Eric Dickerson highlights, that was a pure runner
@@mikehester6890 Dickerson was a fantastic back. No doubt about that. But Barry was in a league of his own.
Well let me put it this way, Eric Dickerson had a smoother run, and he definitely was a faster runner than Barry, and mind you, Dickerson was 6'3" but Barry was hands down the most elusive runner the game has seen, the only other player that even remotely came close to Barry's elusiveness was Gale Sayers
When you set your character to 99 speed 99 agility 99 elusiveness
V K 100*
More like 85 speed but the rest are correct.
DJ GaFFLe more like 92 speed
@Trophy Stackin he had already ran about 70+ yards in all on a lot of plays where he got caught from behind though.
@Trophy Stackin I know I was just pointing out the crazy runs where I think he got caught because of stamina. I'd give Barry a 92 in speed, but a 99 in acceleration and agility.
Hands down the best to ever do it.
I’ve had people say emmit smith and L Tomlinson are better…..
L is HOF I won’t lie but not Barry levels of good…
And Emmit Smith……….
Bruh he literally admitted himself that he’s nothing compared to Barry
@@lionguy8959Barry would've had the record in the time he played with what Emmitt had in front of him. I know of at least 8 that were better than he was, and LT was one. Emmitt is 9 or 10. Dickerson, OJ, Faulk, Sayers, and probably AP outside Sanders, Payton and Brown.
@@fallguye6011I myself liked Thurman Thomas. But Barry, no one like him, the Michael Jordan of football
Barry was different.. one of one !
You can't watch Barry Sanders without feeling some deeper connection to the universe
cmdrfun1 That's exactly what I thought while watch this.
Try watching Gale Sayers. Even people who don't care about sports find his runs great art. I remember watching "Brian's Song" in middle school gym class (it was during a tropical storm) and girls who didn't know or care anything about football were actually tearing up watching his highlights as well as during the ending.
Something tells my your memory of that has been a little over embellished with time. Great running back though.
For reals. I got chills and my eyes welled up watching this. Can't explain it.
Barry Sanders would find a way to elude the universe.
I am too young to have ever seen him play, but watching these highlights, I can't help but be amazed.
The defenders are world class athletes who train their entire lives to be able to make tackles and keep up with a RB, and spend days each week studying opponents on film frame by frame. But when Sanders runs he makes them look like children. It feels like I'm watching a movie that people would say is unrealistic. There are only a handful of athletes ever who are so stunning in this way.
Barry played for the worst franchise of all time and I'm from Michigan. He had little to no support or blocking and still managed to be amazing. It makes me happy to see people in your generation appreciating him bc he was something truly amazing to watch.
The guy was truly gifted you'll never see anything like it ever again
You nailed it young man....he had the ability to make professionals look like amateurs. He did all that when the Lions' executives didn't invest in a line at all, and the team rarely had a deep threat. Defenses often played heavy in the box because there was no reason not to....and yet the man still accomplished all that he did. He was truly amazing, both on and off the field.
He is the Michael Jordan of the RB position, and always had more class.
Well said! Some Linebackers on opposing teams would tell their family members that they couldn’t come to the game when Barry Sanders was in town 😂🤣
@@Spud_E_Buddy is that true? I’ve never heard that before
Not only a great back, but one hell of a sportsman. Don't remember a single endzone celebration from the man. Absolute Class act and someone young players should emulate...
Pure class, pure talent. There are plenty of legends, but only one Barry Sanders.
👍
Barry is so good you can entertain non-football and non-sports fans with his highlights. That's a transcendence very few human beings reach in any respected genre, let alone sports.
There’s plenty of athletes that can capture people that aren’t fans of their respective sports.
@@xpkresxlost2264 Not really. Since we're talking highlights, Jordan probably counts, and maybe Tiger Woods. But Ali, some NASCAR legend, tennis greats - if you're not into the sport, you won't really recognize the greatness; you're still just dodging and dancing, you're still just go around in circles, or knocking the ball back and forth. But everyone gets and can see "the ones not wearing blue are trying to stop 20, the guy with the ball" because we've all run and been chased or chased someone ourselves. And you can plain as day SEE that 20 can run like no one else. Really, the only person I can think of that has a similar transcending effect is (was) Robin Williams.
19 yrs since he retired and there hasn't even been a back that has come close to his greatness.His running style was live action art.
David Mazzini
God has it been that long. I'm old lol
warren lacore I know the feeling.
David Mazzini
It's my birthday today, 55. I don't feel like I'm that old lol.
Put some respect on Adrian Peterson's name. Barry is the GOAT, hands down, and I'm a Lions fan, but A.D. was an absolute beast. Certainly the best of the generation after Barry, along with L.T. Although I'd bet my bank account they both had a heck of a lot more help up front than Barry ever did.
@@1TotalJabroni - much respect to both guys mentioned AP and LT who were absolutely great but I believe he is referring to running style. I find it funny how people always try to say Shady runs like Barry. It was just something about Barry's low center of gravity and quickness that can't be duplicated. Defenders always talked about how powerful he ran. Not in the sense of running you over but having to try to tackle someone so short, compact and quick was so hard when you are 6ft 2" 250 pounds. AP was a tall runner and very strong with speed which made him a nightmare but Barry was just on a different level.
That man had amazing foot work. Always a thrill to have watched him play
im a Packers fan, but i could watch this all day, hes the best running back of all time in my opinion, just amazing!!!
And he retired early, had he kept going no one wouldve ever touched his records
@@ericwood9513 agreed
Bro you should be mad he almost went to the packers but they chose a lineman who ended up being a bust even I'm mad because while I like the lions barry never had the Career he should've had
@@sourpatch4209 trust me, not taking Barry Sanders is without a doubt the biggest mistake the Packers ever made... yeah i feel bad that he didnt get some rings he deserved, but if i was a lions fan, i would still love the fact i would have bragging rights to say i had a top five running back in the entire nfl history...
Skol
This man literally out ran defenders and never shyed away from tackles...he was essentially everything you could want in a RB
The way he redirected the tackles force was amazing
Aneya Slimm and a class act along with humility. They don’t make them like this anymore.
Aneya Slimm no he wasn’t! He was a terrible pass blocker, he could never get short tough yards, he was ineffective in the red zone, he was taken out of the game on the goal line, he was not a leader, he routinely quit on his football team, he wasn’t a big game player, he wasn’t a tough player. Barry was a highlight runner. That gets you good stats and fans, but it doesn’t win you games. Emmitt > Barry by a lot!!!
except elite speed...hence all the tackles in the vid from behind
@@357twilson when you ARE the team, you are the leader...it's leading by example...Emmitt's team was also a tad better...he literally ran behind the best OL in history...tho the Lions OL wasn't as bad as people make out.
5 yards a carry for 10 years...
his trademark jukes were so good, but his vision might be the best the league will ever see. The holes he spotted sometimes were barely there and he somehow found his way through them without missing a step or even brushing against anyone.
He is the best halfback this game will ever see, without question.
WutTheDeuce Check out my channel? God bless ruclips.net/video/w2k79SjYDFA/видео.html
Its not just that he could see them, he was quick enough to get to them before they closed.
WutTheDeuce well said I agree, I was thinking to myself how did he see that hole
This ^. Also his preparation he was the hardest worker and kept himself healthy.
Speed, agility, awareness, juke, character. Unmatched combination
Barry Sanders had 99 rushing touchdowns. From this video, at least 50 were against the Bucs.
I think another 25 were against the Vikings. Lol
15 against the bears
lol I was thinking the same
He woulda had 100 if Herman Moore blocked that safety against the Bears on his longest run 90 plus without a td at 04:50 also holding penalties negated at least a couple Baker dozens
🤣🤣🤣🤣
In the 90s when the Lions were on tv and had the ball everyone with a remote interest on football would be glued to the set in anticipation of the next Barry carry
Todd Miller the only time anyone cared about watching the Lions play....lol
Exactly, there's never been another running back that would have EVERYBODY stop watching their team, and change the channel just to watch this man run, NO OTHER RB PERIOD!!!
bell and ap. well for me at least
@@Chrisinthecivic im a steeler fan die hard and bell is awesome but barry is in another league altogether. I watched him be all defenses nightmare including steelers all those years.
Exactly Todd. He was the football version of Tiger or MJ. If the Redzone channel existed back then they'd have cut to him every time he touched the ball, regardless of field position.
My favorite thing about Barry Sanders, you never seen celebrating the end zone. They asked him why once and he said, because I've been there before.... Classy dude
I think that attitude also made it easy for him to walk way from the game.
@@jeromepowell9245 Agreed
A theory I've heard is this: he Always handed the ball to an official after scoring a TD. He didn't spike it; he didn't celebrate; he didn't do all those TO bullshit, showboating "look at me" things. The biggest insult for a defense was when he just handed the ball to the ref. It was his insulting way, to the defense, to say FU, y'all couldn't stop me. Love HOF 1st ballot Barry Sanders.
Ken Hasibar I like that theory😂😂
It’s a GAME they have FUN with it
The GOAT plain and simple.... No other running back in the league has a highlight reel like this
513OVA EVERYTHING 100%.fact👍👍
I thought to be the GOAT...you had to have the most rings...;)
Aaron Seidl as a running back in football? Heck no
513OVA EVERYTHING and it's a who's who of ppl he's shaking. The Singletary bears, the N.Y. giants.. crazy
Great player and much respect to him but Sweatness: Walter Payton G.O.A.T.
Class & humility. An example for all of us. Thanks BARRY!! I love you!!
My favorite player of all time. Single handedly kept the Lions relevant during his tenure. The 🐐!
So unfortunate, but true.
@Eric Van if yall had a qb and oline it would be a superbowl for barry every year.
Lions were never relevant. Never.
The man retired 21 years ago, and still we have yet to see another back come along with moves like this. Sanders was magical.
Saqoun
LeSean McCoy in his prime was like this
@@dave_3476 No. Just no
@@kylevacca3387 No. Saquon is the closest thing to Barry in a long time but he's no Barry
Adrian Peterson ?
Best damn running back ever! No Showboat, no dancing no singing, stayed humble went out and played for his teammates and had an amazing career. Nobody else has become a highlight reel like that man, that played on a team that rarely made the playoffs. I love living in Detroit and going to watch that man play, he is amazing!
imagine his career if he didn’t get on the madden cover lol
Maybe if he had shown more love & excitement for the game....like Payton, he could've inspired his teammates....and played longer.
@@dme1016 you have no idea what you're talking about. Look at the history of each player, then look at the history of the teams they were on at that time. Then, you'll have a better understanding. I'll say it again, best running back ever!
@@michaelperkins3003 2nd best, behind Barry. And I'm Barry's age, so I saw things in real time. Barry sometimes looked bored on the sidelines. Walter inspired. And you can say it all you want.... I know better, mufukah.
@@dme1016 his performance on the field proved otherwise just because he's not a big cheerleader on the side doesn't mean he's not dedicated and involved. Probably trying to figure out how the hell are we going to win this game!
His lack of any end zone celebration is perfect.
The greatest running back of all time. Period.
And it's really not even close
Walter Payton????????????
No Jackson...
Emmitt smith?
@B Bennett Exactly. He would turn a potential 5-yd loss into a 3-yd gain and it'd get ya pumped up.
There is no question that Barry Sanders is the all time best running back to ever play the game. A running back with no offensive line to block for him, and the amount of yards that he accumulated over his career is unheard of. Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher in the NFL., with 18,355 yards playing 15 years in the NFL. Barry Sanders has 15,269 all-time career yards with only 10 NFL seasons. Emmitt Smith had a monster offensive line to block for him. So you play five more seasons than Barry Sanders and only beat him by 3,086 yards. Barry Sanders could have had that in the next two seasons that's why I consider him the best running back to ever play the game.
He had some good offensive lines, too. Tackle Lomas Brown (3X All-Pro) and Center Kevin Glover (4X All-Pro) were stars. Mike Utley and Eric Andolsek were strong guards. Regrettably one was paralyzed and the other killed by a truck in his front year. Others like Bill Fralic passed through.
Agreed. Barry did have 1300 yards in negative rushes. Yep Glover was 3X Pro Bowl, 4X All-Pro
Most negative yards ever and its not even close.
@@tomconstance2391 Cmon man...Lomas was all pro for his pass blocking. Glover I will give you. I wouldn't exactly call Utley and Andolsek "strong" Barry's lines were average at the absolute best. Pretty big difference between that and arguably the greatest line of all time Smith played behind.
8 seasons I thought
I am a huge Die Hard Chicago Bears fan, And I know people will say how could I say Barry Sanders is better than Walter Payton. Barry Sanders is the best running back that ever lived. Love to Watch Walter Payton play in the 80s when I was a kid, but I have to give it to Barry Sanders hands down. The guy was pure Magic.
I think walter was better all around with blocking ect but Barry is the better back with the ball in his hands. Both are #1 #2 in my book. I think emmitt is overrated
What he did to your Bears on Thanksgiving '96, he should be prosecuted for.
Straight up murdered that entire defense, for 60 minutes. As a tortured Lions fan, it may be my fondest football memory
Hell, I'm from Oxford Mississippi. Never been within 250 miles of the city of Detroit, let alone the state of Michigan.
My 1st memory of football period, was Barry Sanders shredding GB on Sunday night football. Been a die hard Lions fan since that day.
May God have mercy on my soul lol
Sean Clark:
I am right there with you. I am a lifelong Bucs fan, look at how many of these highlights are against us. He once ran two 80+ yard TD's against us in one game, I think that's still the only time it's ever been done.
We did hold him to 20 yards once though.
Elthenar , the only man I think that might have rivaled or been better than Barry Sanders if he would have had a full career, is Bo Jackson I was really young when he was playing but he was Unreal too.
Sanders was great. Payton was great. No one was greater than Jim Brown.
Undeniable talent. There is nothing bad you can say about his game. He would dominate in any era. Watching Barry play was equivalent to the first time I ever heard the music of The Doors. Perfection in every sense of the word. A truly magical experience. A ballet of genius.
The Best description of trying to tackle Barry Sanders - "Hello, Goodbye, Where are you?" Love that!!
I’m a Cowboys fan, but if Barry Sanders would’ve had a team like Dallas in the 90s, he’d won 6 straight Superbowls and would be the MJ of the NFL
And behind that All pro line -
Barry would have broken every rushing record ever
@Lighthouse in the Storm aye, you obviously weren't alive then. emmitt's #'s seem paltry despite his monster oline. barry would have had 7-8 2000+ yard seasons behind that line. and cowboys would have won even more superbowls during the 90's
It's the same with Calvin Johnson. If either one had a championship team behind them it would have been a guaranteed winner everytime. And yes, I am a lifelong Detroit fan.
@@cmennare I too am a lifelong Detroit fan and I root for our best players to be able to leave Detroit and prosper elsewhere
I'm a detroit fan in I can believe that too 🤦🏽
#5 Rodney Peete celebrated right after the handoff 40 yards away from the end zone. He was right.
So gangster
Haha, very nice!
One of my favorite parts of the video. lol. I'm all, "Wait, is he just now crossing the 20-yd line? Peete had his hands up 2 seconds ago!"
Nr 75 in the nr 1 play had already stopped... Then he sees him running passed... wtf moment right there
Vision, speed, balance and most importantly, skill. Pure joy watching that guy play
His acceleration was out of this world. Everyone else was in slow motion.
Bruuh🤣🤣🤣, he's a motorbike
After all the football I watched in the 40 years I've been alive still to this day I have never seen a running back do the things B. Sanders could do. #GOAT OF RUNNING BACKS.!!!!!!
His moves were the best. Walter was a more complete back though.
@@justinlecroy3579 pound for pound barry had him. Sweetness was great and should be the on;y RB comparable to Barry imo
@@benjaminhartman3091 It's all just opinion.
@@justinlecroy3579 nah, Barry the greatest ;)
@@benjaminhartman3091 agree
"Some of those moves there's only one guy in this game that makes, and you just saw that guy" - Classic Madden quote
That's a maxed out video game character in real life.
I just want to let the young people who are commenting on here to understand something. These are some of Barrys 50 highlights somebody put up. These are the times the offense line actually blocked. I watched every game Barry played and 75% of the time he had no blocking and made great runs. Every other great running back you can name had a good or great offense line they played on. Barry played on a horrible team and if he didn't retire early because he got tired of the Lions front office he would have the most yards ever in football.
Robert Brown He had highlight reel plays every single game. Even losses were highlight reel and not his fault (shitty O-line)
@@IWantToBelieve1 .....So true my brother.
Agreed, Robert. How many times did we see Barry get the ball four yards behind the line of scrimmage with three defenders right in front of him, and still get three or four positive yards out of it? Countless hundreds of times. The best ever.
Walter payton had a horrible o-line
Lions had two pro-bowl OL's in the Barry Sanders era. Lomas Brown and Kevin Glover were credited for Sanders early success
Aswell as Jerry Ball all-star one year. Let's not over do it with the "No o-line at all" ..wasnt like he was Earl Campbell on the Saints or Blair Thomas with the Jets..those were border line ASSAULTS
Barry Sanders is the most sensational player I ever watched with my own two eyes. He had virtually no talent around him and every week, teams did everything they could to stop him. It was impossible. You can’t game plan for Barry. You can’t simulate Barry. He was truly electrifying, and it was an honor growing up to watch him play.
That's why I think he was better than Jim Brown. Jim Brown had much better stats but I'm thinking he was able to do that because he had a better team to work with.
the lions had so many players like that over the years
He had 3 pro bowlers on the line and the best fullback to ever play the game. You can tell most of you NEVER studied the game. Ignorant comments on here
There's rumors that they had to simulate his running style by having the team chase chickens during practice
I do not know much about football but I noticed the offence line he was working with could not keep up with him...he did most of the work
Not sure there's ever been anyone who can go from full speed, stop on a dime then burst back into top gear like Sanders. Unreal.
Gale Sayers
Larry Sandcastle
Look at his acceleration at 8:50 when he gets spun around, barely keeps balance on one leg, and next step he is full speed. Not human!
As a Lions fan i can say I'd rather have Barry than a Superbowl. Every Sunday i got to watch this guy play.
When I was growing up, you were a fan of the hometown team. There just wasn't any two ways around it. So being from Detroit, well, the Lions were my team, and as anybody from Detroit can tell you, there isn't a fan base more abused and taken for granted than Lion's fans. Watching the Lions, rooting and cheering for the Lions, was an exercise in frustration if not self-flagellation. In all those years, and I'm talking 40 plus years, there was only one redeeming fact about the Detroit Lions, and that was Barry Sanders. He was the greatest that ever carried a football, he made you forget about the score of the game or the won-loss record, none of that mattered when Barry went off on one of those crazy runs. And to top it off, he was a class act, a real gentleman. You can say that the Lions didn't deserve him, but the Lions fans did, and he was greatly appreciated for bringing a little sunshine to an otherwise dark place.
Well said, but sadly, I believe this is ultimately what led to his early retirement. He stayed for the love of the fans, but the management would not pay to put a real team around him while the fans were buying tickets just to watch him.
That’s how I felt about Sosa being a die hard Cubs fan as a kid. You showed up just to watch him hit towering home runs. But I’m sure you know how that ended. At least they won a Series. But by then I would call myself a die hard but rather a casual fan at that point. Barry Sanders was the man.
Couldn't of said it any better man. 👏
I am a lions fan and it’s so true. The lions are so abused in the NFL, Barry was the best thing to ever happen to them. Then Calvin Johnson
To this day, people still miss Barry Sanders.😎
He fixes houses and stuff around town now. Lives a normal life, people are just like Hey Barry
@@jjprulz As a Lions fan, The Fords are such horrible owners! Well Martha is doing better then William ever did. But the NFL owners never showed love to our Lions, How can we build a contending team if the refs are just take games from us. The Lions are the most hated team to the refs.
I was born in ‘99 and I miss Barry 😂
Just imagine how awesome his stats would've been if him and Calvin Johnson got to play a few seasons together.
@@roysherman9534 Dont remind me :(
No other running back will be as great as Barry! Not even close. And so humble.
Yes, he was very humble. Don't see too much of that today unfortunately.
Berry Sims is good as him
still gives me chills
*”This guy has moves on his moves”*
Lol
@@venomrg. lol my comment blew up and your comment brought me back!
@@s4spencer54 and
@@mosthatedgangk132 nice 👍
Amazing to see in those clips where the defense did eventually tackle Barry, it was only because of a horse collar tackle.
My boy Herman Moore always had Barry's back. I loved watching the two.
I agree. Brett Periman for a couple yrs wasn't too shabby either. Herman was sick for sure
@@Kipdeisel don't forget about our boy Johnny Mortan!!!
@@Golions2084 Yeah outta USC. He was a good player. Drafted in '97 If remember correctly
Yup
Number 5. The quarterback signals the TD before Barry gets out of the backfield
I can't tell you how many times I've watched this video, lol. A thing of beauty 🥰
The only RUclips video that shouldn’t be free to watch. That’s how good Barry Sanders highlights are.
I couldn't agree more
This, is why youtube was created.
This is why *football* was created.
sixburgh64ss to have a horrible offensive line huh?🤣
Actually it was supposed to be a daiting website but people trolled it by putting up a bunch of cat videos
Earnest Evans nah man...cat videos is why RUclips was invented
Well said.
I'm only 24 and finally getting back into NFL (go G-Men) but I had to go into some history. Never almost became teary-eyed watching someone like this play football, and reading the comments at the same time. What a Legend. Respectful, tactful, I mean true definition of all-american.
In my opinion, he is the greatest running back in NFL history. It’s such a shame that we couldn’t ever be on a winning team.
I literally want to comment about every play I just saw but it’s too much this guy was ridiculous! Truly the RB GOAT 🐐
Every once in a while I watch some barry sanders highlights just to remind myself there’s ZERO running backs that have been like him since he retired. He’s hands down the best running back ever. 3/4’s of these plays 100% of the running backs playing today couldn’t make.
It also seems like 3/4 of these plays were against Tampa Bay. Lol. He owned them.
@@enmitygauged44 But today Tampa owns super bowl LV
@@enmitygauged44 actually if you listen carefully most of these plays were draw plays. They ran the Run and Shoot passing scheme so their focus wasn’t running the ball. Average line size was undersized too for that reason (something like 265 lbs. or so). That’s why Barry had to make stuff up to create his own holes so to speak. I think it’s just coincidental that you see the highlights against Tampa.
Agree, he was amazing
LT and AP are the only comparables
His skill was just on another level. My old roommate watched him playing basketball in the off season in the Detroit area. At 5'6" he could do a 360 dunk. EASILY! That puts his vertical over 40 inches. He had powerful legs, but used his strength to make guys miss. Seldom was he ever tackled squarely. They talked about dual defenders boxing him into a a space the size of a phone booth, and he jukes his way out of it barely touched. He is the GOAT no doubt. It was much watch TV for 10 years. Sure was fun watching him play. Put that guy on modern turf every game and it would have been even more impressive.
Gary Thompson his acceleration was ridiculous too. He hits the hole and looks like he’s shot out of a cannon.
Absolutely concurr! If there was anyone I liked to watch more than Walter Payton, it would be this man. EASILY the all-time rushing leader, and never to be matched, if not for two things (in my opinion):
1. I truly believe that he respected Walter Payton, who was dying of liver and bile duct cancer at the time.
2. But probably more relevant, Barry wanted a Ring; the rushing titles were literally a means to an end. He felt that, after failure to acquire and keep certain personnel, the Lions as a club weren't committed to getting to the Big Game. After putting forth and leaving it all out on the field so much over the years, he probably realized that he wouldn't have the same opportunity that Walter eventually got at the end of his career: a chance to play in the championship.
Sanders: simply the best.
I also wanted to comment on your take on his physical capabilities: spot on! Because of his leg strength, Sanders could literally accelerate into a slash-cut, which would, and did, totally destroy the knees of other runners (see Gayle Sayers, and Seahawk running great Kurt Warner). I've NEVER seen a runner besides Sanders run virtually parallel to the line of scrimmage, cut and explode upfield, not only without slowing down, but accelerate...
Um, Barry is 5'8.
Mach68 he isn’t
This video of Barry Sanders is a gem. Never watched the Detroit Lions. So wonderful to view some of his phenomenal runs now. Thank you for sharing this remarkable man's running accomplishments. Really. I said Wow Wow and WOW! so much.
Is it just me or did it seem like he really loved to line up against that Tampa Bay defense happy Bornday Barry 💪🏿💪🏿🙌🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
Jason McIntyre word, I remember as a kid thinking barry’s got these guys number.
Jason McIntyre considering TB was horrible early in his career after 1996 Barry didn't dominate the bucs once the bucs got a defense. Sapp brooks lynch barber etc. Bucs beat lions in 1997 playoffs believe Barry was almost a non factor that game
JDBass36 Sanders had his best games against that Tampa defence in its prime. Lions might of lost of playoff game to them. However when Tampa had Sapp Lynch- Brooks- in their prime. Samders dominated them. Made 'em look like fools. I was at the games here in Tampa. Simeon Rice said "Barry ran over me like I was a little girl" videos #4 #6# 8 are against that Buc defence in its prime. Two of them in the same game in Tampa. I was there on the 40 yard line.
Stephens Dygert lions didn't win much vs bucs Def but overall Barry would be stuffed all game then break a 65 yard run to inflate his yardage, still a dam beast Making something out of nothing
I was thinking the same thing! At least 10 of those highlights were Barry going wild on the Bucs!
This video also contains footage of the entire career highlights of Scott Mitchell and Rodney Peete.
Lol it's funny cause it's true🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
@Jack Trippin777 i think it was more QB play. Although, Herman Moore was a x4 pro bowl WR with 7 900+ yard seasons (4 of which were over 1000) while Barry was there, Qb play was generally not good. One could argue that Herman was a probowler becuase Teams stacked the box trying to stop Barry. Year after Barry retired, Herman had another 900 yard season, but the wheels fell off after that.
Rodney peete career highlight was his hot wife
Who?
ja,ja,ja!! simón: Entregando el balón a Barry.
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this and I’m still in awe,TBE..
I'm watching the Lions vs Raiders Monday Night Football, and made me think of the greatest Running back ever, The GOAT, BARRY SANDERS #20 and I'm a Broncos fan. My respect and admiration.
Barry AVERAGED 99.8 Yards per game over his career. Amazing to watch! Favorite player as a kid.
With the other team purely trying to stop the run. He was the best
The best Barry highlights video I've seen so far. Editing was perfect. Cheers mates.
The best...with a garbage line. Once in a lifetime talent!
Jason Wallace I couldnt have said it better
Rewatch the video and you will see his line made holes on a lot of those plays.
T. Mills
They aren't going to show the plays that the line caved in and he was caught in the backfield on a highlight reel. If he had Emmett Smith's line there wouldn't have ever been a comparison between the two.
Barry juked all over the field because that's just his running style. He's the all-time leader in lost yardage because he ran backwards juking instead of settling for a one yard gain or a one yard loss. I'd pick Barry over Emmitt 10 outta 10 times, but many people act like Barry would have been easily averaging 2500+ rushing yards a season with the Dallas line. I just don't believe that. You guys overrate Barry because of his o-line, and you guys underrate Emmitt because of his.
T. Mills
If you watch the video you will see Barry run right thru the hole if his o- line would give him one. No juking. I could say that since I'm from Minnesota that Adrian Peterson is the GOAT. He had more power and speed than Barry but Barry had heart and yeah he lost some yards but he didn't take the big hits because of it. Barry is the GOAT.
Insane! Play #1 even his own teammates are confused with his moves. Everyone jumping to the ground in case was fumble, and Barry was already 10 yards ahead running alone… what a great human being and what a big pride for Lions heritage !!!!
I miss Barry, and I'm a Steelers fan. So glad that Im old enough to remember watching him do it. A true marvel. Best ever. Its a shame that he never got to win a ring.
Then you remember him juking rod woodson out of his acl in preseason game
Too bad you never got to see Jim Brown play.
Steelers fan here too and I agree best ever.
@@michaelpouch970 It was a regular season game. Opening game of the 1995 season.
"Some of those moves, there's only one guy in this game who can make..." -Madden
My favorite RB of all time!! I love how they culminated it, with John Madden (RIP). Barry had the worst O line, yet carried the Lions on his back.
His balance, vision, and ability to change direction on a dime are absolutely insane. 💯
Making professionals look like toddlers, amazing!
Its crazy because its 3 more RBs in Wichita KS just like Barry Class of 2018💪💪
This is the best highlight reel you will ever see.
Reggie bush
Dante hall..
Its been some nice shifty guys throughout the years
@@zacpreston9771 cant compare barry to any other running besides Walter Payton even then barry GOAT
Saw Barry being interviewed, and it jogged my memory. I always said he was far and away the best running back I ever saw, but then I wondered if maybe it was me building him up in my mind more than he was. This video was perfect to remind me that I was right. Spectacular, amazing, and even now I am sitting with my heart pumping after so many, "OMG!" coming out of my mouth! THANK YOU for this video.
Best running back of all time, maybe? He is SO MUCH FUN to watch. Slippery, elusive, agile. That spin move is legendary. Love this guy.
He was the best. The stats don't tell the story of how great he was. He came out of the game in the 4th anytime the lions were way up to give backups a chance and the Lions didn't want to risk injuring him for no reason. Also.....He would come out in 4th quarter of many games when the Lions were down a bundle and had to score quickly and often. So no real garbage eating up the clock in the 4th quarter when the defense is tired kind of yards.....which happen to account for many yards of the other great back of time Emmit Smith.