Every NFL team’s greatest running back of all time

This next running back could very well be given the honor of being the best to ever play the game. Back in 1989, the Detroit Lions took Barry Sanders third overall out of Oklahoma State and he ended up becoming the face of their franchise for the next 10 seasons.

As a rookie, he made the Pro Bowl on the strength of a 1,470-yard and 14-touchdown campaign. From there, he only got better, as Sanders topped the 1,000-yard mark in every season of his career — and was then named to the Pro Bowl in each one of those seasons.

During that span, the Lions were a struggling franchise, which made Sanders’ accomplishments that much more impressive. He continued to produce despite there being a lot of talent around him. In all, he had 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns on the ground. His career average of yards per rush attempt was 5.0 and his best season saw him record 2,053 yards.

Unfortunately for Detroit, that was also his second-to-last campaign. Sanders returned in 1998 and put up another 1,491 yards at the age of 30, but then walked away from the game following that season. He did so despite being within the range of the NFL rushing title held by Walter Payton then. Once that was passed by Emmitt Smith, it moved him to third.

One of the most elusive backs to ever play the game, Sanders was a highlight waiting to happen. No one expected him to leave when he did and there will always be the question of how much better he could have been on a more formidable roster.