Lions to honor Barry Sanders with statue exterior Ford Area

DETROIT — One of many biggest gamers in NFL historical past is receiving his flowers in a serious method. An 8-foot bronze statue of Detroit Lions nice Barry Sanders can be unveiled exterior Ford Area forward of the 2023 NFL season.

He’ll turn out to be the primary participant in franchise historical past to be immortalized exterior of the sector.

“I am unable to imagine the jokes have already began amongst my teammates in regards to the top of the statue. Are you able to imagine that?” Sanders joked. “Thanks a lot to the Detroit Lions and the whole Ford household. I am really honored and humbled by this, however I’ve received to say I am really blessed to play right here in entrance of those wonderful followers on this nice metropolis since 1989.”

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The information was introduced through the halftime ceremony of Sunday’s Lions homecoming sport towards the Miami Dolphins by his former teammate Chris Spielman, who’s now the franchise’s particular assistant to president/CEO and chairperson.

“By no means extra beloved by Lions followers, by no means extra deserving of a monument right here in Ford Area,” Spielman stated. “Barry, on behalf of the Ford household, and the Detroit Lions group, it’s my pleasure to announce that we’ll unveil an 8-foot bronze statue of you right here in Ford Area forward of the 2023 season.”

Lions followers roared, then chanted “Barry! Barry!” as Sanders stood on the sphere alongside a plethora of franchise alumni. Sanders nonetheless holds quite a few franchise dashing information and has the fourth-most dashing yards in NFL historical past (15,269). He received the NFL’s MVP award in 1997 and was named first-team All-Professional six instances in his legendary profession in Detroit, which lasted from 1989 to 1998.

There is also a 9-foot-tall statue of Sanders at his alma mater, Oklahoma State College, which was unveiled final yr.

“I do know the official celebration will not occur till subsequent fall, however I am wanting ahead to sharing that particular second with all of those followers and my teammates and Lions nation,” Sanders stated. “I am so humbled and honored by this. Thanks rather a lot.”