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“Things That Were Going On” Lions’ Barry Sanders Finally Opens Up About Retirement

McQuade ArnoldBy No Comments5 Mins Read
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Aug. 1, 1997; Detroit, MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Lions running back Barry Sanders stands on the sideline after coming out of the game against Atlanta during the preseason at the Silverdome on Aug. 1, 1997. Mandatory Credit: JULIAN H. GONZALEZ-USA TODAY NETWORK

The Detroit Lions have seemingly done what the Cleveland Browns haven’t been able to.  Get out of a multi-decade rut.  In back to back seasons, Detroit has played like one of the best, if not the best team in the league.  Last season they fell just three points shy of reaching the Super Bowl.  This season, they’re on track to take the number one seed in the NFC (although a lot can happen between now and the end of the season).

However, given all this success, legends have been coming out and supporting the team more than ever.  Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders has been no different, however, this time he finally opened up about his retirement from the team.

“Things That Were Going On” Lions’ Barry Sanders Finally Opens Up About Retirement

Oct 2, 1994; Tampa, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders (20) in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
Oct 2, 1994; Tampa, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders (20) in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

During his age-30 season, Barry Sanders shocked the football world when he announced he was retiring from the sport. Even though he was older than many running backs of today, he had just finished another excellent season with 1,491 rushing yards and nearly 1,800 offensive yards:

Sanders kept the reasons behind his retirement decision private for nearly a quarter-century, before finally opening up on it in the 2023 Amazon Prime documentary, “Bye Bye Barry.”

During a recent appearance on the “Get Got Pod” co-hosted by former NFL superstar running back Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson, Barry Sanders elaborated on his retirement decision.

“That every day grind, all those little things you have to do to stay on top of your game. For me, when I got to 28-29, I just felt like it wasn’t there. Also…things going on with the team. I felt like we were kind of rebuilding, there was no need to stay around. I had pretty much done everything besides win a Super Bowl.

Oct 2, 1994; Tampa, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders (20) in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
Oct 2, 1994; Tampa, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders (20) in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Being that we were kind of rebuilding, I didn’t really see that in my sights. That drive, that passion I always had, it just you know, wasn’t there in the same way….I need to be somewhere else on Sunday if my mind and heart really isn’t there.”

Jan 14, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders is recognized during the first half of a 2024 NFC wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders is recognized during the first half of a 2024 NFC wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Here is a look at Sanders’ career stats:

Rushing Receiving Scrimmage
Season Age Team Lg Pos G GS Att Yds TD 1D Succ% Lng Y/A Y/G A/G Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD 1D Succ% Lng R/G Y/G Ctch% Y/Tgt Touch Y/Tch YScm RRTD Fmb AV Awards
1989 21 DET NFL RB 15 13 280 1470 14 34 5.3 98.0 18.7 24 282 11.8 0 46 1.6 18.8 304 5.8 1752 14 10 14 PB,AP-1,AP ORoY-1
1990 22 DET NFL RB 16 16 255 1304 13 45 5.1 81.5 15.9 36 480 13.3 3 47 2.3 30.0 291 6.1 1784 16 4 16 PB,AP-1,AP OPoY-3
1991 23 DET NFL RB 15 15 342 1548 16 69 4.5 103.2 22.8 41 307 7.5 1 34 2.7 20.5 383 4.8 1855 17 5 15 PB,AP-1,AP MVP-3,AP OPoY-3
1992 24 DET NFL RB 16 16 312 1352 9 55 4.3 84.5 19.5 40 29 225 7.8 1 48 1.8 14.1 72.5 5.6 341 4.6 1577 10 6 12 PB,AP-2
1993 25 DET NFL RB 11 11 243 1115 3 42 4.6 101.4 22.1 48 36 205 5.7 0 17 3.3 18.6 75.0 4.3 279 4.7 1320 3 3 10 PB,AP-2
1994 26 DET NFL RB 16 16 331 1883 7 76 44.7 85 5.7 117.7 20.7 65 44 283 6.4 1 16 32.3 22 2.8 17.7 67.7 4.4 375 5.8 2166 8 0 20 PB,AP-1,AP MVP-2,AP OPoY-1
1995 27 DET NFL RB 16 16 314 1500 11 72 42.4 75 4.8 93.8 19.6 70 48 398 8.3 1 17 35.7 40 3.0 24.9 68.6 5.7 362 5.2 1898 12 3 16 PB,AP-1,AP OPoY-5
1996 28 DET NFL RB 16 16 307 1553 11 81 50.2 54 5.1 97.1 19.2 32 24 147 6.1 0 6 37.5 28 1.5 9.2 75.0 4.6 331 5.1 1700 11 4 14 PB,AP-2
1997 29 DET NFL RB 16 16 335 2053 11 86 45.1 82 6.1 128.3 20.9 50 33 305 9.2 3 12 42.0 66 2.1 19.1 66.0 6.1 368 6.4 2358 14 3 19 PB,AP-1,AP MVP-1,AP OPoY-1
1998 30 DET NFL RB 16 16 343 1491 4 65 38.8 73 4.3 93.2 21.4 57 37 289 7.8 0 10 31.6 44 2.3 18.1 64.9 5.1 380 4.7 1780 4 3 13 PB,AP-2
10 Yrs 153 151 3062 15269 99 380 44.1 85 5.0 99.8 20.0 362 352 2921 8.3 10 61 35.4 66 2.3 19.1 69.3 8.1 3414 5.3 18190 109 41 149
17 Game Avg 17 17 340 1697 11 85 5.0 99.8 20.0 39 325 8.3 1 66 2.3 19.1 379 0.6 2021 12 5 17
Apr 24, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; A statue of former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; A statue of former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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McQuade Arnold is a Co-Owner of Wisconsin Sports Heroics (WSH), Gridiron Heroics (GH), and Hardwood Heroics (HWH). He graduated from American Military University with an associate in General Studies and is currently pursuing his Bachelors in Sports Marketing. McQuade has been active duty in the United States Navy for 11 years and is currently stationed in Chicago, IL after spending time in Norfolk, VA and San Diego, CA. He is originally from Superior, WI and is a die hard Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Milwaukee Bucks fan. McQuade's work for WSH has been featured on YardBarker, Bleacher Report, NewsBreak, and MSN.

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