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NFL: Ranking every MVP winner in league history based on pro career

By Hans Themistode

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 11: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during a NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 11: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during a NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /
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Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) /

Ranking every MVP winner in NFL history: 13. Barry Sanders

Stats:

  • 15,259 rushing yards
  • 99 rushing touchdowns

You hate to see an all-time great leave the game without hoisting a Lombardi but that’s just the way it goes sometimes. While running back Barry Sanders never reached the Super Bowl, he’s still considered one of the greatest running backs ever.

In all ten of his seasons in the league, Sanders was named to the Pro Bowl. He was also selected to six All-Pro teams and given the 1997 MVP award after rushing for the third-most rushing yards in league history with 2,053.

At 5’8 and barely 200 pounds, Sanders was normally the smallest guy on the field. But while defenders attempted to stomp on him whenever he got the ball, they could barely get a hand on him.

The lowest amount of yards Sanders has ever rushed for in his career was 1,115. If he simply protracted his career just a little bit longer, he would’ve easily been the all-time leader in just about every category for his position. Even with a somewhat brief stint in the league, Sanders still has the fourth-most rushing yards with 15,269 and tenth most rushing touchdowns with 99. Let’s take a moment to think about what could’ve been…

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