One of the greatest players in Detroit Lions team history, running back Barry Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after having amassed an astounding 15,269 rushing yards yards and 109 total touchdowns while playing in just 10 seasons.
While he wasn’t able to lead the Lions to an elusive Super Bowl victory, he remains a beloved and highly regarded figure in Detroit sports circles, and has been a brand ambassador for the franchise since 2017.
Meanwhile, another highly regarded former member of the Lions is Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who spent the first several years of his NFL career playing for Detroit after they selected him first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
He was dealt to the Rams in the highly publicized blockbuster trade for Jared Goff, and immediately led Los Angeles to the Super Bowl in his first season with the club.
Stafford, who was eliminated from the NFL postseason with the Rams by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, still has a backer in Sanders, who said that he’s been rooting for him and taking joy in his successes.
“I think there’s a good number of us that still take some satisfaction in the success that he’s had and wish him well,” Sanders said on Friday. “When he won the Super Bowl his first year away from Detroit, I think there was a lot of us cheering him on.”
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Detroit Lions Icon Barry Sanders Roots For Rams QB Matthew Stafford
Stafford, who guided the Lions to three postseason appearances during his time with the franchise, has enjoyed tremendous success since joining the Rams.
Sanders joked that he believes Stafford could play at least another 10 years while also reiterating that he’s firmly in his corner.
“You see the level that the guy’s still playing at, I think he has 10 years left in him,” Sanders said. “But it’s great to see him performing at a high level, especially looking at some of the serious injuries he’s had over the last few years. So, yeah. I’m excited about that and … (it’s) great for Matthew.”
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Matthew Stafford Won The AP NFL MVP Award
After a tremendous season in which he led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and a career-high 46 passing touchdowns, Stafford earned AP NFL MVP honors on Thursday night at the NFL Honors show.
It marked the first time that the former Lions quarterback took home the award; at 37 years of age, he became the oldest first time winner of the award, and the third oldest quarterback to do so behind Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
Despite speculation that he could potentially be considering retirement, Stafford affirmed his plans to return to the Rams next season while thanking his wife and daughters for their support over the course of his career.
“You’re unbelievable cheerleaders for me. I appreciate it,” Stafford said. “I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me, and I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re out there kicking ass.”
Detroit Lions Icon Barry Sanders Opens Up, Shares True Feelings On Matthew Stafford