American professional football player, an outstanding running back in the National Football League (NFL). He is noted for his quickness, strength, and exceptional ability to change directions while running at top speed.
Sanders was born in Wichita, Kansas, and educated at Oklahoma State University. In 1988, his junior season at Oklahoma State, he set numerous National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) records. They included scoring 39 touchdowns, rushing for 2628 yards, and gaining 3250 all-purpose yards (yards gained from rushing, pass receptions, and kickoff and punt returns). For his accomplishments that season he won the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player.
Sanders was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft. He made an immediate impact that year in his first season, rushing for 1470 yards and 14 touchdowns and being named the NFL's rookie of the year. Sanders became one of the best running backs in the league over the next few years, leading the NFL in rushing in both 1990 and 1994. In 1995, after 103 games, he surpassed 10,000 rushing yards for his career. Only two players, Eric Dickerson and Jim Brown, reached 10,000 rushing yards in fewer games. In 1995 Sanders also became only the second player, after Dickerson, to rush for at least 1000 yards in each of his first seven seasons. In 1996-97 season he became the first player to do that 8 straight seasons. He is currently the highest paid player in the NFL