Barry Sanders' story is still being told. In July 2025 the two-part documentary Barry Sanders: Out of Nowhere won a Heartland Emmy, following the Amazon film Bye Bye Barry and the unveiling of his statue outside Ford Field in 2023. Fans simply cannot stop watching him run.
Small, impossibly quick and able to stop dead and change direction at full speed, Sanders ran for 15,269 yards in ten seasons with Detroit, then walked away at 31. Shop more gridiron greats in our American football collection.
Barry Sanders Fact File
| Full name | Barry David Sanders |
| Date of birth | 16 July 1968 (age 58) |
| Place of birth | Wichita, Kansas, USA |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Position | Running back |
| Nationality | American |
| Status | Retired (1999); Detroit Lions brand ambassador |
| Shirt number | 20 (Lions), 21 (Oklahoma State) |
Career History
| Season | Games | Rushing yards | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 15 | 1,470 | 14 |
| 1990 | 16 | 1,304 | 13 |
| 1991 | 15 | 1,548 | 16 |
| 1992 | 16 | 1,352 | 9 |
| 1993 | 11 | 1,115 | 3 |
| 1994 | 16 | 1,883 | 7 |
| 1995 | 16 | 1,500 | 11 |
| 1996 | 16 | 1,553 | 11 |
| 1997 | 16 | 2,053 | 11 |
| 1998 | 16 | 1,491 | 4 |
| Career | 153 | 15,269 | 99 |
NFL regular-season rushing figures, all with the Detroit Lions. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry and added 352 catches for 2,921 yards.
Early Years: Wichita and Oklahoma State
Born in Wichita, Kansas, Sanders spent his first two seasons at Oklahoma State as a backup to Thurman Thomas. When he got his chance in 1988 he produced one of the greatest seasons in college football history: 2,628 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games, both NCAA records at the time.
He won the Heisman Trophy and was a unanimous All-American, then declared for the NFL Draft.
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Breakthrough: Rookie of the Year in Detroit
The Lions took him third overall in 1989 and he was an instant hit, rushing for 1,470 yards and 14 touchdowns to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year. He made the Pro Bowl that season and in every one of his ten seasons.
He led the league in rushing in 1990 and in rushing touchdowns in 1991.
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Peak: 2,053 Yards in 1997
In 1994 he ran for 1,883 yards and was named Offensive Player of the Year. Three years later he went even further, piling up 2,053 yards in 1997 to become only the third running back to pass 2,000 in a season. He shared the NFL MVP award with Brett Favre and won a second Offensive Player of the Year award.
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The Shock Retirement
On 27 July 1999, aged 31 and coming off a 1,491-yard season, Sanders announced his retirement. He was just 1,457 yards short of Walter Payton's all-time rushing record. The Lions retired his No. 20 in 2004, the same year he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Honours
Awards
- NFL MVP: 1997 (shared with Brett Favre)
- Offensive Player of the Year: 1994, 1997
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: 1989
- Bert Bell Award: 1991, 1997
Selections & Titles
- Pro Bowl: 10 (1989–1998)
- First-team All-Pro: 6
- NFL rushing leader: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
College & Halls of Fame
- Heisman Trophy: 1988
- College Football Hall of Fame: 2003
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: 2004
Off the Field
Sanders has been a Detroit Lions brand ambassador since 2017. He co-wrote the autobiography Barry Sanders: Now You See Him (2003), and became the first player to appear twice on the cover of the Madden NFL video game, with Madden NFL 25 in 2013.
FAQs
How old is Barry Sanders?
Barry Sanders was born on 16 July 1968, so he is 58 years old.
Where was Barry Sanders born?
He was born in Wichita, Kansas.
How tall is Barry Sanders?
Sanders is 5 ft 8 in, about 1.73 m.
How many rushing yards did Barry Sanders have?
He ran for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns in ten NFL seasons, all with the Detroit Lions.
Why did Barry Sanders retire early?
Sanders announced his retirement on 27 July 1999, aged 31, choosing to walk away while still at his peak, just 1,457 yards short of Walter Payton's rushing record.
Did Barry Sanders win the Heisman?
Yes. He won the 1988 Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State after rushing for a then-record 2,628 yards.
Shop the Barry Sanders Collection
Celebrate one of the most electrifying runners ever with our Barry Sanders designs, made to order in the UK.
Find more in our American football collection and our Detroit Lions collection. Fancy your own name on the back instead? Design a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Walter Payton and Jerry Rice.
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