Barry Sanders recently shared his reasons for retiring from football just before the start of training camp, a decision he communicated through a faxed letter to The Wichita Eagle, his hometown newspaper.
In an appearance on the “Get Got Pod” with Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson, Sanders explained that by the time he reached 28-29 years old, he felt disconnected from the game. “The daily grind, all those little things necessary to stay at the top of your game… I just felt like it wasn’t there anymore,” he said, reflecting on his decision. “There was a lot going on with the team, and it seemed like we were in a rebuilding phase. I had pretty much accomplished everything except winning a Super Bowl, but with that rebuilding phase, I didn’t see a championship in sight. The passion and drive that once fueled me just wasn’t there in the same way anymore. If my heart and mind weren’t fully in it, I felt like I needed to be somewhere else on Sundays.”
By the time Sanders retired, he had accumulated 15,269 rushing yards and 99 rushing touchdowns.
He also took a moment to address the current Detroit Lions, noting that the team now has a very different feel from the ones he played for. With a strong roster and Super Bowl aspirations, Sanders expressed hope for their success, despite the absence of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
