For 10 seasons, Barry Sanders wowed Detroit Lions’ fans (and plenty of other NFL fans) with his amazing runs. Then, out of nowhere, Sanders decided that he was done with football and was retiring.
With15,269 yards, Sanders was well on his way to becoming the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. But, that record was not as important to Barry as was going out on his own terms.
In 2004, Sanders was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and there is no question about it that he is one of the greatest running backs ever to play in the NFL.
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Now, Barry is back with the Lions as an ambassador for the team and he is having a great time.
From Associated Press:
“It’s definitely nice to be back after the first few years of being retired and there not being much communication,” Sanders said in an interview with The Associated Press. “So, certainly just being able to be involved with certain things that the team is doing from a community outreach standpoint and that sort of thing, for me, it’s great.
“And, just being able to be around the game a little more and certainly around the Lions family a little more for me is meaningful so I do appreciate that.”
But Sanders is not the only one happy with his new role as ambassador to the team. The Lions too are thrilled to have Barry back in Detroit where he belongs. Lions president Rod Wood knows how important it is to have Sanders involved with the current team.
“It’s great having him around and back in the fold, interacting with fans and corporate sponsors,” Lions president Rod Wood told The AP. “He’s probably if not the best player in Lions history, he’s in the handful of the best.
“And, he’s definitely the most remembered by our fans.”
Is a Barry Sanders’ statue in the works?
Barry’s former teammate Lomas Brown believes it is time to honor him with a statue.
“It’s hard to believe there’s not one,” Brown said.
When Rod Wood was asked by the Associated Press about that idea, he may or may not have given away what was or was not a secret.
“We’ve talked about things we haven’t announced,” Wood said.
As for Barry, he would be thrilled to have a statue of him put up at Ford Field.
“It would be a great honor.” Sanders said.
.@BarrySanders is enjoying being a #Lions ambassador and would be honored if team chooses to erect a statue of him @AP_NFL pic.twitter.com/J8p7tCAOR1
— Larry Lage (@LarryLage) September 26, 2018
Either Wood is messing with us, or a Barry Sanders statue announcement could be coming sooner than later!
