Current:Home > ScamsBarry Sanders once again makes Lions history despite being retired for 25 years -Visionary Growth Labs
Barry Sanders once again makes Lions history despite being retired for 25 years
View
Date:2025-04-25 08:42:02
Legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders has been a source of pride for Detroit Lions fans since the start of his NFL career in 1989. The renowned running back will continue to be celebrated for generations to come with a bronze statue commemorating his legacy.
On Saturday, a statue of Sanders from one of his 1995 games was unveiled outside of the west corner of Ford Field, one day before the Lions' home opener against the Seattle Seahawks. The 8-foot tall structure atop a 5-foot tall blue granite base depicts Sanders, mid-jump and with a football in one hand with the other hand outstretched, his eyes wide to scope for any oncoming tacklers.
Sanders is the first Lions player to be immortalized with a statue at their home field.
The statue was completed by studio artists Omni Amrany and Lou Cella of Fine Art Studio Rotblatt Amrany, both whom have worked on several other well-known commissioned sports statues. They started working on the Sanders statue last December after months of research and planning.
NFL WEEK 2 PICKS:With Aaron Rodgers gone, can Jets get past Cowboys for 2-0 start?
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
NEVER MISS A SNAP:Sign up to get the latest NFL news and features sent directly to your inbox
"Technically we had something that looked like him, but then we had to feel for the personality," said Cella. "Whether it’s the face, the arms or the whole contortion of the body, we made sure to capture the personality."
Sanders is known for his 10 record-breaking seasons, from 1989-98, during which he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each season. Throughout his career, he continuously broke records and is considered among the elite players to ever carry an NFL ball.
In 1989, his first season with the Lions, Sanders broke their rushing yardage record with 1,470 yards – only 10 yards behind the NFL’s best that year, winning Sanders the NFL’s Rookie of the Year award.
His most remarkable accomplishment came in the 1997 season when he rushed for 2,053 yards, achieving best in the league and earning him the title of the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.
At the time of his unexpected 1999 retirement, Sanders had accumulated 15,269 rushing yards, likely only one season short of breaking the then-all-time rushing record held by Walter Payton. Following the 1998 season, Sanders held NFL records for the most consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards rushing, most games with at least 100 yards rushing in a season, most consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing in a season and tied for most 1,000-yard seasons. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
"You’d walk across that Silverdome parking lot in cold and wintery weather but everybody always had a smile … That day they’d see Barry Sanders do something that they’d never seen before," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at the unveiling. "Barry Sanders, on and off the field, always made Detroit proud."
Despite his early retirement, Sanders has never failed to show his unending support for the Lions. To this day, Sanders is considered by many to be the greatest Lion ever.
"If I could, I would go out to each and every Lions fan, give you a hug and tell you how much I appreciate you," Sanders said to the crowd gathered at the unveiling. "It’s been such a wonderful journey for me, just being lifted up and cheered on by all the Lions fans out there. It’s hard to express how much you really mean to me, so thank you so much to all of you Lions fans. We’ve had some great times together."
veryGood! (217)
Related
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Handicapping the 2024 Kentucky Derby: How to turn $100 bet into a profitable venture
- Kevin Spacey denies new sexual harassment and assault allegations to be aired in documentary
- Warren Buffett’s company rejects proposals, but it faces lawsuit over how it handled one last year
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Matt Brown, who has the second-most knockouts in UFC history, calls it a career
- 2 women found dead and 5-year-old girl critically injured in New Mexico park, police say
- Mexican authorities recover 3 bodies near where US, Australian tourists went missing
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Jury foreperson in New Hampshire youth center abuse trial ‘devastated’ that award could be slashed
Ranking
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Academics and Lawmakers Slam an Industry-Funded Report by a Former Energy Secretary Promoting Natural Gas and LNG
- Shades of Tony Gwynn? Padres praise Luis Arraez, who makes great first impression
- 2024 NBA playoffs: Second-round scores, schedule, times, TV, key stats, who to watch
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Step Back in Time to See The Most Dangerous Looks From the 2004 Met Gala
- Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby by a whisker. The key? One great ride.
- Padres manager Mike Shildt tees off on teams throwing high and inside on Fernando Tatis Jr.
Recommendation
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Spoilers! How Jerry Seinfeld pulled off that 'fantastic' TV reunion for his Pop-Tart movie
Florida women drive 500 miles from Jacksonville to Key West in toy cars to 'save animals'
If Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves didn't have your attention before, they do now
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
You'll Love These 25 Secrets About The Mummy Even if You Hate Mummies
I-95 in Connecticut reopens after flaming crash left it closed for days
Massachusetts detective searches gunshot residue testing website 11 days before his wife is shot dead