When talking about the greatest players of all time, and certainly when dissecting the game’s greatest running backs, Barry Sanders is a name near the top of the list. One of the most productive players in history, Sanders’ impact knew no bounds during his decade-long career.
A one-team guy after being drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1989, Sanders spent his entire tenure with the team before calling it quits at the end of the 1998 season. However, over a quarter century after his retirement, he revealed the Kansas City Chiefs as the one team, other than the Lions, that he wouldn’t mind suiting up for.
NFL Legend Barry Sanders Envisions Himself in Today’s Chiefs Offense
During his days wreaking havoc in the NFL, there was no contemporary quite like Sanders. It would be impossible to note all his accomplishments in a small space, but here’s a gentle list for a player who made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro every year that he was in the league.
An MVP and two-time Offensive Player of the Year winner, Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and tallied over 1,400 yards seven different times, while crossing the 1,500-yard mark in half of his seasons in the league.
Between 1994-1997, he never tallied less than 1,500 yards in a season, including two years with 1,883 and a career-high 2,053 yards to his credit. With all of those accomplishments, it is a wonder how the legendary running back would have fared in the league today.
As the game goes back towards a more dynamic playstyle with the RB position regaining some of its prominence, Sanders spoke about the team that impresses him the most. Sports Illustrated covered his comments, as he had effusive praise for Kansas City.
“I’d love to play for this current version of the Chiefs, absolutely,” Sanders said. “I’ve always had my eye on the franchise, and it’s great to see the success that they’ve had.”
Barry Sanders turns 51 today 🎈
He was an absolute magician with the ball in his hands!
(via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/IOdsMxonUQ
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 16, 2019
For Sanders, they reminded him of the Detroit Lions of old.
“Because so many generations of Chiefs fans have wanted a champion and wanted a winner,” Sanders said. “That’s kind of the same thing with Detroit. We’ve been through so many seasons and generations of fans that did not see a bona fide winner.”
In Kansas City, that conversation changed when Patrick Mahomes arrived on the scene. During his seven years as a starter, he hasn’t ended his year before the AFC Championship Game even once, making it to five Super Bowls, with victories in three of them.
On the other hand, Sanders’ Lions remain in search of the Vic Lombardi trophy. However, like the Chiefs, the team has seen a reversal in fortune since head coach Dan Campbell took over. The past two years have cemented Detroit as a legitimate contender as they secured the No. 1 NFC seed for the first time in franchise history.
With the loss of both their coordinators this offseason, the team might take a slight step back. But if they can maintain their level of play, it might not be out of the realm of possibility that the Lions lead a charge to the Super Bowl.
It is certainly a reality that the NFL Hall of Famer wants to believe in.
“Maybe we can lift that Lombardi Trophy one of these years, like the Chiefs have done several times in the last few years,” Sanders said. “It would be a great day in Motor City when that moment finally arrives.”
No matter what challenges lie ahead, the Lions have given their fans, and Sanders, real hope for the future. With a strong foundation in place, Detroit’s dream of bringing a Lombardi Trophy to the its city finally feels within reach.