Physicist Explains Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders is an iconic football player from the 90's and is arguably the best of all time. Watch as I break down the physics behind what made him a legend!
Check out the Physics of Calvin Johnson: • Physicist Explains Cal...

[@UnicornOfDepression]

Barry made every Thanksgiving in the 90s that much more enjoyable. Dinner, family and Barry destroying defenses. Everyone tuned in for Barry.

[@snoop11080]

I just told my wife the same thing

[@mr1nyc]

Facts

[@Swamatron396]

💯

[@charlesstewart7896]

Then he retired-😢 thanksgiving was never the same lol

[@jodioster91]

-1 rushing yards vs reggie whites superbowl team

[@borood1188]

He had a low center of gravity, his legs were like pillars, incredible reflexes and flexibility. One of the greatest athletes to ever walk this planet.

[@richardw3347]

cat-like hops and agility.

[@quick2mack74]

Could stand under a basketball hoop and jump off two feet and dunk it. Ran a 4.37 forty. Squatted 600 lbs. Monster.

[@zatoichi3134]

he looked great even going backwards losing yards lol, the best imo.

[@marksterling533]

His legs were tree trunks

[@cdjeeyore]

No other running back in my memory had his leg strength. Low center of gravity and superior leg strength plus great vision equals best running back in NFL history.

[@DJHobbs-nr7co]

He made Hall of Fame defenders look like average players. Truly the G.O.A.T. of running backs

[@williamsmith8790]

@Lamont if he’d had a line like Dallas it would have been “ Emmett who?”

[@dougcastle1785]

@Lamont cowboys fan here. Emmit gets upset when asked how many yards would Barry had if he play the years that Emmit did. No other RB had the field vision and could anticipate the reaction of opposing players better than Barry. Oh and can we admire how fukn humble the man was. He never gloat and showed off. Amazing player/man

[@asnark7115]

Adrian Peterson.

[@petset77]

@@asnark7115, close. Same with Sweetness. AP was amazing.

[@mattrondeau7466]

Rod Woodson (and his ACL) would agree.

[@ponchomoya]

I recall a running back saying that you could put Barry in any era of the game and he would dominate that era as well. Truly the GOAT of football.

[@bradsanders407]

I mean that's pretty obvious.

[@Davo2233]

My goat is Jerry Rice. Dominated his position more than anyone has ever dominated there position .

[@bradsanders407]

@@Davo2233 he didn't dominate as much as he had staying power. Randy Moss dominated but only when he felt like it.

[@Davo2233]

@@bradsanders407 Man you better check the stats. J.R. was better than Moss. Moss was a deep threat Rice was an everything threat and more humble. I know that doesn’t count but nobody dominated their position like Rice. With the exception of quarterbacks.

[@cloudmaster182]

@@Davo2233 I think the stats are the important part when talking abt Moss vs Rice. I won't comment on the receivers and I'm biased cuz I was too young to see Rice play, but nobody ever used the phrase "Rice'd a defender"

[@brendaporter457]

Not only the greatest running back of all time but such a humble guy as well!!

[@HakeemTheDream616]

I think he was the greatest talent to ever play in the NFL.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

Barry and Bo are equals in my mind. If Bo hadn't gotten injured, I'd rank him above Barry slightly. As much as I hate the Raiders; Bo had Barry's Elusiveness, Jamal Charles/CJ2K Speed, and the ability to steamroll people like Jim Brown/Dickerson/ect.

[@soulesslemming]

I met Barry and asked for an autograph. He didn’t want to sign it because he hates people selling his stuff. So I asked him to autograph it to me personally and I had him write a message including my name and he did it without hesitation. He’s a great guy who is so humble it’s amazing.

[@brendaporter457]

@@soulesslemming that’s a great story!! Yes unfortunately their are too many people out there trying to profit from someone else’s notoriety. Don’t blame him at all.

[@bahice]

Yes! No theatrics. No touchdown dances. No spiking the ball. Hand the ball to the ref and get back to work. I’ve been in this end zone before and I’ll be back again. No big deal. Much respect to this legend!

[@jamesdicks5069]

The run against the Colts is my favorite. After Barry changes direction, he takes three steps and Rodney Peete the QB raises his his arms to signal "Touchdown" because he already KNEW no one was going to get him, even from the 20. I had season tickets, and had the privilege of watching him his entire career. He is the greatest pure running back of all time.

[@drift_ah1518]

Yeah first time I saw the video I wondered how that guy raised his arms so early when there were like 6 other defensive players to run through, then the greatness just hit me

[@Swamatron396]

Bruhh! 😂

[@ryancrawford8042]

This also happens to be the sole play Rodney Peete appeared to know what he was doing.

[@workingclassdog3]

Damn season ticket holder for the lions. You sir can come in the foxhole.

[@bradsanders407]

Incredible lions get two of the top three Heisman vote getters and nothing

[@albertwisenauer3188]

For those too young to have seen him play...this man, #20....is the single greatest running back to ever touch a football...at any level...in any country...in any universe or galaxy...there is not a debate.

[@LNEENZ]

Jim Brown my bOiii

[@albertwisenauer3188]

@@LNEENZ JB ...#2 along with OJ...but JB played before the depth on defense was deep...played with a very good OL most seasons (Barry never had 1 good OL...maybe in 91...kinda) Barry retired at 29.75 years old ...coulda run for at least 1200 for 3 more years...JB was a men among boys with his strength and size no doubt...but Barry was the most talented, best RB ever...despite HORRIBLE coaches, TERRIBLE play calls (taking him out inside the 10 yd line) and GARBAGE Offensive Lines. Nothing wrong with being the 2nd best in the history of sport that hosts ONLY freak athletes like the NFL, JB is LEGEND no doubt!

[@friendlyfire6168]

Isn't Barry 2nd in overall rushing yards all while retiring at least 10 years before he would have actually had to?

[@mr.johnson460]

Yes there is. Walter Payton was better.

[@albertwisenauer3188]

@@mr.johnson460 nah...Walter was a true great...but not in the same league...that's how good Barry was! Barry did it all with no offensive line...Walter had hall of famers he ran behind...not taking anything from sweetness...I grew up in Chicago...but Barry did things no one has done nor will they! Walter is number 3 behind Barry and Jim brown

[@Chemical18104]

I was his neighbor when he lived on Volusha street in Wichita. I was the house directly across the street when he opened his front door. I have an engineering degree from Notre Dame and I am still astonished at how amazing he was. A really good classy guy. My cousin was on the North high school football team with him and he confirmed that Barry genuinely was a good guy. I was also in the same class as his little sister. They were all nice people to be around. Best of all was his mother. I remember going into his house when I was small and they read a Bible story to me and gave me cookies. To everyone else we were just bad kids but his mom respected me like I was actually a real person. I will never forget that. Thanks

[@Lance54689]

What a small world, my sister bought a house on Volusha this year. I'll have to ask her if there is a legend about Barry Sanders.

[@skinofbronzehairlikewoolbl4120]

Brought tears to my eyes. Great story

[@zach4279]

Just felt like throwing in that you have an engineering degree? 😂

[@cmonman7664]

Your full of bs. I was steve jobs neighbor. I was mother Teresa's neighbor

[@jimmysmalls2511]

It's Volutsia

[@me_liam_the_gamer]

He is still, to this day, my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PLAYER of ALL TIME!!!!

[@PRODUCEDBYKEV]

mine too. hands down.

[@bplup6419]

I love that little high kick he does when he changes gears. When that leg comes up you know he's about to hit the turbo.

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

+1 for hitting the turbo

[@scottmctaggart8171]

His strength in his legs was a huge factor. Especially whe he can accelerate to full speed in 2 or 3 strides. POWER! low center of gravity, agility, awareness, acceleration. He was a locamotive/ drag racer/ UFO changeing direction on a dime, then add a dancer with his foot work. Greatest of all time.

[@rodgerlang884]

Also the fact that his ankles didn't work like normal human beings. It was like he had ball bearings in his ankles

[@thecryptobarnacle9530]

I remember my heart broke when he announced his retirement. I couldn't believe we would never see his mastery again.

[@dungteller367]

The man was the best of all time, it was a sheer joy watching him perform some kind of athletic magic.

[@guittadabe5214]

On #3 (against the Bears), he got away because the defender tried to rip the ball away from him instead of take him down. The defender tried to use his weight to wrench the ball away from Sanders by falling backwards, but Sanders neutralized the weight issue by spinning the same way as the force exerted, until the guy's back hit the ground, at which point his weight was no longer useful to pressure the ball, and Sanders was then able to wrench the defender's arms away, complete his spin and keep going. Barry's instinct and self-awareness of where his body (down to the part level) is in relations to everything and everybody around him, are out of this world.

[@bigghoww]

The defender went for the ball after falling to secure the tackle due to Barry spinning.

[@tenpiualto]

Guitta, I think you've identified a key factor here. He frequently used the contact with defenders against them, by going in the direction he was hit very briefly, with the plan already in mind of where he needed to go next. He'd realign his posture in the process, and plant his feet with the exact angle he needed to move in the direction he chose.

[@ThePopbanks007]

This was a better physics analysis than the video provided tbh

[@dropclutch1]

Yeah and I'm pretty the defender you are talking about is the legendary Mike Singletary, one of the most feared LBs of that era.

[@tenpiualto]

@@ThePopbanks007, thanks. Physics was my absolute favorite science in school, and I remember a ton of it despite having graduated from high school the same year the original Star Wars: A New Hope was released.

[@MP-tf7cc]

The ability to change direction quickly is agility. Barry was certainly one of the most agile backs in history.

[@dcc1974]

I think most would agree that he was THE most agile. Dude moved like a rabbit out there. So fun to watch.

[@mjtrace8391]

I actually tear up when I watch his highlights. Hes so amazing. The greatest.

[@bigassdummy46]

I tear up when watching Scott Mitchell highlights too

[@Chazaq]

@@bigassdummy46 yeah I laugh so hard I cry when I see him too

[@Spindryft]

Same!

[@JonHop1]

@@bigassdummy46 if the Lions just had a better Qb and better defense, they woulda won super bowls.. Barry was a game changer and Herman Moore and Johnny Morton were solid WR's. They were so close to having all the pieces. There was talk of Detroit trying to get Manning, and man, if they did, Imagine the Lions with Barry in his prime for another 4-5 years?

[@mikehamm45]

I tear up remembering how the Lion squandered the best talent in football, arguably history.

[@redstwok1123]

I actually saw him once in person wearing shorts. Each of his legs looked as thick as his waist. These massive tree trunk legs is where he derived so much of his power and acceleration, while lowering his center of gravity even more.

[@BBBYpsi]

His ankles were bigger then my biceps

[@lancestewart8821]

It was reported back then he leg pressed 600lbs

[@ThunderPants13]

@@lancestewart8821 I'm surprised it wasn't a lot more than that. I had a roommate in college who could leg press 1,000 pounds. He was built a lot like Barry.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

@Boy Wonder Bingo. Runningbacks have an ideal height of 5'10-5'11. That's why the big knock on Adrian Peterson out of college and in his career was "he runs tall". Think of the greats since the game became more balanced (so since the 90s) and you wont find many above 6 ft tall (and those that were became injury prone like Jamal Charles). Curtis Martin, Tomlinson, Ricky Williams, Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis, Tiki Barber, Terrell Davis, on and on and on. Once the game stopped being just "get that Man Amongst Boys type guy" and defenders started bulking up, the Low Center of Gravity became the Key. Maurice Jones-Drew made a career out of having a low center of gravity. Even back in Madden, your Runningback create a character was penalized in stats if above 6ft, with 5'10 being the ideal for them.

[@52156drj]

Yeah, I've heard that his legs measured between 31 and 34 inches. Leg presses of over 600 pounds for more than 20 reps. You're definitely not going to knock him over with a bump.

[@CaptainTass]

I cried the day Sanders retired. I met him once in Honolulu. He was a quiet, humble, incredibly nice guy.

[@HakeemTheDream616]

I cried too...I still remember it to this day. I was 9 years old

[@kidkalibre1862]

@@HakeemTheDream616 I cried too and I am the same age as Barry.

[@spiralbones]

I met him once in Detroit after a game, he was a huge asshole to my mother.

[@taitrief]

I recall being shocked to

[@jinjerjunkie]

I was 17 and cried like a baby, he was the only famous/celebrity type that I actually looked upto as a role model. Have never followed football again since that day.

[@alldayeverydaypreparedness]

Not just the greatest RB of all time, but also one of the best players in nfl history.

[@p90x1011]

I lived in Pontiac MI not to far from the silver dome. Watching him was a privilege. Met him once at a golf dome putt putt sport place, they say don’t meet your hero’s, well his class was as stellar off the field as well as his class on the field. Super great person. I have the highest respect for him.

[@CommonSenseNetwork]

You must not know Earl Cambell from Tyler Texas.

[@randywissler9923]

I remember seeing an early interview where the reporter asked him how he could juke and move the way he did to keep from being tackled. He said when he was still at Oklahoma St he separated his shoulder and didn't tell anyone, cuz he knew they wouldn't l et him play, and started the crazy footwork to keep from getting hit and hurt his shoulder even more, that became what we all know and love about Barry Sanders.

[@francoisg1393]

The greatness of Barry came from how he used his opponents' momentum against them. We analyze it in slow motion, but in real time, he had the instinct to calculate a would-be tackler's speed and direction, and change his course to let the defender take himself out of the play. In an era of the game when being big mattered a great deal, Barry was ahead of the curve, by using his vision, quickness and speed.

[@weswelch5403]

I grew up in Stillwater Oklahoma...got to meet him and autographed by him in the 5th grade when he come to visit us at my elementary school..his sophomore year ..and seen him play as #21 and 20...he left a mark on my heart as a youth..words can't compete to who he is on and off the field...Records don't mean anything as a fan ...he is and will always be The greatest of all time ...in my Heart and many more ..

[@edamnaf9265]

This man is (was) incredible...he deserved a ring....

[@hellocity801]

Barry's freshman year at Oklahoma State: Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer saw film of Sanders and told his players before the game "You better hope (future NFL Hall of Famer Thurman) Thomas doesn't get hurt, because his back up is even better."

[@Wallyworld30]

Thurman Thomas was truly a great RB that doesn't get enough attention. He went to 4 straight Super Bowls!

[@tiddiesattic]

@@Wallyworld30 L,L,L,L

[@elijajackson9651]

@@tiddiesattic not his fault thou. Should of won at least 2 of em

[@tiddiesattic]

@@elijajackson9651 SB25: 15car 135yds 5rec 55yds 1td (Belichick's game plan called for Thomas to have 100+yds) SB26: 10car 13yds 4rec 27yds 1td (+ 1 lost helmet🤦🏼‍♂️) SB27: 11car 19yds 4rec 10yds 1td (1 fumble) SB28: 16car 37yds 7rec 52yds 1td (2 fumbles) SB AVG: 13car 51yds 5rec 36yds 1td (1 fumble per 17car) Opponents lead rusher AVG: 21car 104yds 3rec 15yds 1td (1 fumble per 86car +2MVPS) 🤷🏼‍♂️ *have to cut him some slack for last 2 SBs since he was facing the greatest team of all time 😎

[@jamesdaniel3326]

@@Wallyworld30 and lost all 4. That's an NFL record!

[@markhimself44]

He's my all time fav nfl player...grew up watching him. Every time he ran the ball I got goosebumps. And not only was it talent, it was those so called "tree trunks" that we call legs.

[@rodneymeeks8996]

OMG! I really enjoyed this video! Been a Lions fan since 1985! I had the privilege to go to the Lions practice & take pictures with Barry Sanders & get my football cards signed! He is the Greatest Running Back of All-Time!!💪🏾💯❤

[@bahice]

That he did what he did with THAT team makes it even more amazing! He was consistently running through defenders rather than running through holes. If he had had an offensive line like Emmit Smith had for so long with Dallas he could very conceivably have averaged 2000 yds/season. I don’t even think that’s hyperbole.

[@rjwright1064]

THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE END OF THIS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION, MY GOODNESS HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN PLAYING AGAINST POP WARNER WITH EMMITTS OLINE

[@brianallison1913]

I would like to think so as well. However, following blocks was not the style he used. They simply gave him the ball and told him to run. But I do think if he was given the chance to adjust to it and had a great line like Dallas of the 90's he would have put up 20,000+ yards in his career. Many great backs have had great careers following blocks but only Barry Sanders had a great career without following blocks. There's no reason to think he couldn't have excelled with blocks. He is the best ever by far. So yes I agree.

[@John-14-6]

That’s not hyperbole at all; just FACTS!!

[@josephfriedling9190]

Cowboy fan since 1970 - I agree with you 1000%

[@piggy5677]

You not lying.

[@jacquestaulard3088]

My background is in biomechanics etc, so my interest in Barry was, at first, academic. Then, it occurred to me that he was actually running differently from most of the NFL p layers, who are not slow by any measure. So, as I studied him, I became a lunatic fan! Nearly drooling! And he did all this in a losing program. One example of his amazing talents, as the main target of tacklers, is that he carried the ball 884 times with a total of ONLY 6 fumbles.

[@LancerSmith]

That is one of his many amazing stats! I bet your background in biomechanics adds another level of fascination.

[@Baalzz302]

Fun fact, the Lions were 4 games under 0.500 during Barry’s time at Detroit.

[@thesweattexperience7741]

@@LancerSmith Early in the video you actually mentioned that his inside step was a stutter step a couple of times. Later you referred to it as a juke which is more fitting because it is done with a fluid motion. A stutter step is what one would see a basketball player do, football players do not have time to stutter step they have to remain in motion.

[@LancerSmith]

@@thesweattexperience7741 Good point

[@Wallyworld30]

@@Baalzz302 Lions went 0-16 Without Barry Sanders. First team to ever accomplish this feat.

[@artmeddaugh6669]

No disagreeing here, Barry's the best running back of all-time. As a lifelong Detroit Lions fan, I thoroughly enjoyed watching him run the ball for 10 years, but I will say watching this video and other Barry highlight videos, I truly appreciate all of his gifts that made up the total package that much more. There is only one Barry Sanders, and who in the heck knows if there will ever be someone even close to being on his level in the future.

[@borood1188]

“Of all the players I faced there was only one I FEARED, because he could beat you at any moment. And that was Barry.” - Reggie White

[@derekashford6163]

The greatest athlete of all time. He did things video games cant mimic.

[@FREEDOM_33]

I gotta give props to my brother. I got a Barry Sanders rookie card in a pack as a kid and my brother went through it with me and told me to make sure I keep that one in perfect condition. I remember him saying he was going to be great. If not the greatest. He was absolutely right. Thanks bro! P.S. I still have that card.👍

[@bryantaylor7411]

Keep that card

[@AMO17]

That card needs to be in a safe under lock and key!

[@PlayingItForwardCoaching]

After watching the greats such as Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, etc, etc, Barry Sanders was truly the GOAT! Mind blowing what that man could do! We were all privileged to see him in his incredible career! Ironically, my Packers could have had him with Farve as Detroit picked him at number 3 while the Pack had the number one choice and took Tony Mandarich. How many more Super Bowls might have Green Bay had with a combo such as Farve and Sanders? You put together an amazing compilation here on the physics of Barry Sanderson! Well done, my man!

[@blackreign3138]

I’m from Detroit and I agree that would have been legendary, I wish the Lions would have let him move on, the way we let Stafford go. We could have enjoyed his greatness a few more seasons.

[@LancerSmith]

Favre and Sanders would have been unfair! Appreciate the support

[@Wallyworld30]

I've been a Packer Fan since 1987. If we drafted Barry in 1987 we would have wasted his talent. It's what I've been telling myself anyway. We have never been a run first team so he was better off in Detroit. Ideally would have been if he replaced Walter Payton in Chicago. Barry's started when Payton was shutting it down. Kind of like Farve to Rodgers they could have gone Payton to Sanders.

[@christco120]

The Packers picked 2nd that season, Dallas took Troy Aikman with the first overall pick

[@jamesdaniel3326]

Nobody knew who he was, Favre didn't show up 'til several seasons later. No team can maintain 2 franchise players.

[@brucesprung6431]

Just watching these highlights brings back so many memories. Before his Lion days I watched him play college ball at OSU. He's from another planet. I doubt there will be another like him, or another back as fun to watch. Was a superhero!

[@joshlewis575]

Have still never seen anyone having anywhere near as much shake as Barry had. Dude was a video game character with his juking ability

[@drift_ah1518]

@@joshlewis575 yup - Barry is truly a video game character. There's no way a guy can be running one direction and then changes directions two or three times in less than a second while the world stands still - my favorite still remains where 6 or seven guys are jumping all over the place trying to take him down and then he just emerges from the rubble to score his touchdown - like nothing was happening around him. And he never spikef the ball or yelled, just simply looked for a ref and calmly handed the ball over

[@jacoblavoie8326]

The greatest running back that I have ever seen play football. Barry Sanders was the complete package: speed, strength, agility, juke, stiff arm, spin move, TD!

[@allanhugo9213]

I am in total agreement with you and in total awe Barry Sanders. On top of that I love the humble nature of Barry which is what really makes him not only a great runningback but a great man!

[@yoshstudio]

A = F/m During the off season Barry would come back to Oklahoma and work out at the local YMCA where his son played basketball. I would often see him working the squat rack. He did 600lb squats for reps. That is generating some force.

[@LancerSmith]

I’ve always heard he was crazy strong in the legs. So yes, Barry generating large amounts of force with his legs would increase his ability to accelerate. Combine that with a low mass, you have one super quick dude.

[@HakeemTheDream616]

I used to do 500lbs squat reps 😁

[@jgonzo1995]

It was such a joy getting to grow up in Michigan and cheer for Barry. I had a chance to meet him on a flight from Oklahoma (his home) back to Detroit after he retired, and he was the kindest, nicest celebrity I've ever met. He meant so much to us and lived up to it. The greatest.

[@cbarnettcti123]

I loved this analysis. One thing not commented on is the uncanny ball handling. Barry always moves the ball to the arm furthest away from the oncoming tacklers.

[@scottenriquez1930]

Yup. It was the incredible strength in those massive legs. Add to that his phenomenal “big picture” awareness and innate instinct that simply cannot be taught…. He’s one of my favorites as well. He WAS the Lions in the 90s…

[@KCShox]

Watching numerous highlight videos of Barry, I've several highlights where he's horse-tackled. I'm amazed he was never seriously injured being horse-tackled so many times during the era he played in.

[@Physics072]

I saw him live many times. My undergrad was physics too. A few things not mentioned that I noticed when watching him was his ankles and ability to keep his torso upright while his lower half was almost touching the ground. I use to compete in slalom course water sking and he reminded me of a water skier running the slalom course. He looked like a cartoon character the way he ran and it was his normal style. I think in a inside the NFL they had a podiatrist look at his moves and commented on his ankles the ability to really bend them at extreme angles and not hurt himself. He was a mutant form of a human. That is why you wont see another like him, you can't teach it you can't train for it.

[@marcianbarnhill5978]

100 percent!!!

[@daveausdauer1310]

The ability to pivot direction on demand combined with acute awareness of his balance explains every play in your top 10. The Dallas play, he literally stopped dead and waited while defends fell on top of each other expecting him to drive into them. As they fell, he took off. Awareness of his surroundings made those plays possible.

[@Joseph-lz5er]

I never saw a runner like Barry. His cuts, strength, speed, agility, acceleration, and vision, was like no other. I highly doubt there ever will be another RB like Barry. He is a once in a lifetime type of player. I was lucky to watch him play.

[@joshlewis575]

Dead on, never will u see another guy with his vision and juking skills together. Dude was made to run the pigskin

[@kevinkusman9137]

I can only think of one guy that might of matched Barry. Ricky Henderson, The all time steal king of baseball. Very similar builds with massive legs and acceleration unmatched. If Ricky played football instead of baseball, He probably would have looked like Barry.

[@TeeBarr]

Hands down the best running back ever in the NFL and probably one of the greatest athletes of all time. He is rarely mentioned as that. If the Lions teams he played for were not so mediocre and he played for a team like the 90's Cowboys he would have easily had like 3 or more Superbowl rings as well as several MVP's. I have been a diehard Giants fan since I was a kid but Barry Sanders was hands down my favorite player then as well as to this day. GREAT VIDEO!

[@Wakizashi25]

I met him at an autograph signing after he'd been retired for years. Grand Rapids Michigan. He was only supposed to be there for 2 hours, and I arrived late (as I always do with everything it seems) so I figured I would at best see him as he left. Dude stayed with his entourage an extra couple hours so that he could have at least a moment with everyone there. I remember someone passed through to the back of the line that Barry said he'd wait, and we were just collectively in awe of this guy. When it was finally my turn, nearly an hour and a half after he was supposed to leave, he hadn't looked tired or impatient at all. He shook my hand, thanked me for coming out, I stuttered out something about him being amazing and how much my father and I respected him. He just smiled and told me how much he appreciated it, signed a few things, and I kept going not wanting to hold him up further. Still took the time to say bye to me after I was walking away and I felt rude haha. Barry is the classest of class acts.

[@TheHikingDead]

Easily the greatest running back I ever saw. He was so much fun to watch. As a life long Patriot’s fan, #2 really stands out to me. It was like he was in video game mode. It wasn’t fair to the rest of the league.

[@matthewclay6535]

I'm a lifelong Pats fan too. Barry was beyond phenomenal. What a waste of talent (playing for Detroit).

[@petebrown6356]

200-odd lbs, 5'8" - but could squat 600+ lbs!!! The one attribute I think you miss was just how STRONG he was for his size. It's why he could drag people with him even once they got ahold of him - you see this in your #3 & #2 runs.

[@rhmayer1]

Yes, again, taking the physics a bit deeper... in order to have the agility along with that low center of gravity and wide stance you MUST have very high strength because the FORCE needed to make those agile changes in direction and acceleration REQUIRES that extra strength. Essentially, it was his STRENGTH, particularly lower body strength, that ALLOWED him to use the physics. You or I or anyone can play with a wider stance and make our center of gravity low and with my lower weight I should be able to do everything Barry Sanders does, right? NO. I mean, yes, I can do that - but only once or twice. Certainly not continuously for 4 quarters. I just don't have the lower body strength that would let me do that. So glad I grew up during that time and was able to watch the greatest RB of all time live (well, live on TV).

[@anwaranfield1324]

He legs were incredible and long... his visions and angles....

[@LancerSmith]

Thanks for adding this Robert. You're completely right about the strength of his legs adding force. I didn't add this aspect because I didn't have hard numbers for his leg strength compared to other football players. But I have always heard his legs were incredibly strong. I mean, you can look at his legs and tell....

[@choochoochooseyou]

The undisputed GOAT. It's scary to think what his numbers may have been in a decent team.

[@RomanSoldier13]

For sure. Maybe not as many crazy broken plays like #1-3 in this video though

[@SaltySpark]

Growing up in Michigan, watching Barry was the reason I fell in love with the game. Absolutely magical.

[@raymondweaver8526]

Amazing player and just as humble

[@retiredprincipal1970]

The best ever…without a doubt!!

[@michaelhuertaz3372]

Those of us who had the previlige of growing up in the 90s watching Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson were probably the luckiest fans ever!!Those 2 are the greatest to ever run the ball! By far!

[@robertflint4115]

With all that greatness and the amazing runs he had for touchdowns. Never once did he do some stupid dance. He always just dropped the football or handed it back to a ref. Definitely a role model for young kids wanting to play football.

[@jeffkiewiet806]

Not true he celebrated his first touchdown and that was it. Said after that he acted like he had been there before.

[@no-yj2cf]

Terrible take

[@HonoluluBlue81]

I was lucky enough to watch Barry every Sunday for 10 years. He is as humble as he was electrifying. I was at the game for #9. Also #8 and #6 were the in the same game. He absolutely torched the Bucs.

[@mitchellkalina8191]

Glad to see somebody educated review Barry. Also my favorite runner. Man, what a freaking athlete. He could seriously make anyone watching him just be like jeez. It's crazy

[@thinkcivil1627]

What is even more incredible is that the Lions, basically, had no other offensive weapons at that time and everyone in the stadium (and those watching TV) knew he was going to get the ball. As a Packers fan, I was able to see Barry in 2 games per season and I watched every other game I could when the Lions were on TV. My brother went to several of these games and even though he was a die-hard Packers fan, he had to admit that being able to see Barry play was a big part of why he and his buddies went to those games.

[@kenmasters2025]

Barry right, Barry left, Barry up the middle. Lions in a nutshell

[@davidlitchford7714]

They had Herman Moore for a Lil while, who was a top 5 receiver for a couple years at least

[@ModSquads]

Finally an enthusiast or fanatic that appreciates the mechanics of greatness. Barry IS the greatest athlete of the gridiron. Wish I had the math aptitude because I love sport kinesiology. Thank you for this awesome vid. Please do more within or even outside of football 💣💥🙏🏿

[@jayraq4882]

Awesome mover, incredible ability to stop, start, accelerate, spin, without losing momentum. It was great to hear John Madden calling the play again too. Miss you John.

[@1950Grendel]

Watched him every Saturday at OSU and Sunday with the Lions. Thanksgiving isn't the same without Barry shredding the defense.

[@robmangeri777]

I’m really glad I watched this!!! I always knew Barry Sanders was special but when you actually SEE it up close and realize what is happening it’s jaw dropping! I think I might just go along with considering him being the greatest of all time. Only a few guys I can think of special like him!

[@rce2553]

Barry was awesome. Nostalgic football clips hearing John Madden, good work with selecting the high lights and breaking it down. An amazing life I lived during the time of some of the greatest sports atheletes ever. Memory Gold!

[@adnomo]

Thanksgiving dinner then Detroit and Barry Sanders. I grew up in Nor Cal and you’re either a 49er or Raiders fan. But on Thanksgiving we were all Detroit & Barry’s Sanders fans. Thanksgiving hasn’t been he same since. You’re spot on and and I’m glad you explained what made him so great but you left out one major thing…. Class. Most classy and humble football player.

[@terucks]

Love this! Barry has an acceleration speed like no other! The greatest when changing speed of direction and shift + cut.

[@floydmills8963]

the spin he gave to the Bills team on the goal line is probably his best spin in my opinion. It was just effortless, so smooth and fast it was just ridiculous!!! peace and love y'all 🤟

[@mobomba6206]

If you see if from the original angle during the game it was just rediculous how he did that.. makes no sense

[@tother1069]

The best ever ! Smiled every play . Witnessed Barry s magic in Detroit live many times .

[@ronalddelrosario7405]

Great video! Explains very succinctly what made Barry so great physically. The thing that really put him over the top into legendary status was his hard work and humility. He always felt he could improve. He somehow got faster as he got older and he did that by focusing on it in his training. And I love how after he scored a TD, he would usually just flip or hand the ball to the ref nonchalantly, no big deal. Still my favorite football player, and one of my favorite athletes, of all time.

[@ltrigga219]

Aww man, haven’t seen a deep dive on my favorite player of all time in a while, especially not a science-based one! Love it, subscribed. Good stuff! Edit: shook Sapp and Lynch on the same play! Geeeeeeeeze he embarrassed Tampa a lot. Love that the number one was the absolute devastation of the collective ankles of the Dallas Cowboys.

[@liveldptrax7311]

He was built like a real life NFL Blitz character!🙏💯

[@miketownsend2538]

I couldn't agree more. My all time favorite sports hero. No doubt the best running back in NFL history and there will never be another runner like this. All that greatness and never once spiked the ball.

[@greenmantis2158]

Several times a year when I'm bored , I grab a beer and watch Barry Sanders highlight. It never fails to put a smile on my face

[@BobDpirate2]

He was magical. I'm glad I had the pleasure of watching him play. Too bad he never really had a supporting cast 😢

[@noisepuppet]

Of course he had astonishing athleticism, but I think what distinguished him from other top running backs was his unmatched technical footwork and phenomenal vision.

[@jamesbush2720]

Agreed 💯. Absolutely the most skilled RB EVER!!! Once in a lifetime...

[@jonschlottig9584]

So fun to watch! Thanks for the video

[@jackchase3537]

as a die hard lions i feel badly he and johnson didn't have the opportunity that stafford got, and can you imagine if they were on the rams team right now calvin and cooper un stoppable !

[@LancerSmith]

Calvin Johnson video is next on my list.

[@bobyost42]

Yeah that the Lions didn't build team around Sanders, Calvin Johnson, or Matthew Stafford should be reason for the league to force a sale to a new owner that will do so. At least they let Stafford go to a team that tries to win. Wish the other 2 had the same opportunities, they certainly deserved it!

[@charmerci]

I agree and have for a long time. My favorite was when as he was being tackled, he put one hand on the ground as he spun around, changed direction and broke free on the other side of the field.

[@jamesdaniel3326]

They were playing the Bills. He did a 180 on one hand and popped up and ran. Over all, he lost yardage, but the 180 is mind boggling!

[@gricasmoto3745]

There's nothing to say except greatness that is Mr. Barry Sanders

[@robertborgeson1821]

This is really good content. I just paused about halfway through the video to post this. After the video is over I will be checking out what else you have for content. This is very intriguing and I hope there is more. This seems more fun than anything due to the fact using just one subject as your sample size and all the variables that come with that but I would love to see more scientific/physics based football analysis. Really cool stuff and hope there is more to come.

[@vaughnmiller4371]

The most elusive running back the game has ever known. If he would have had an offensive line throughout the majority of his career he would have set yardage and touchdown records no one would be able to touch.

[@walterf6993]

Thank you for the scientific analysis to try and explain Barry Sanders, I couldn't. The first thing that came to mind when I saw some of his moves was extra-human or super-human. Some things are hard to explain. I also thought that about Beast-Mode (Marshaun Lynch). Excellent presentation.

[@Notaslave1961]

Such a superb human being too!!! Full of Humility. Thanks for sharing Dr. Physics!

[@feija0zinh0]

Thanks for highlighting Barry sanders. This was great

[@PapaEli-pz8ff]

THANK YOU! You were able to articulate what many of us fans were watching and wondering about for years. I saw a short Barry Sanders video which was narrated by Wynton Marsalis.. comparing him to a Jazz musician. As a longtime Jazz fan, the connections were very clear. Now I also see the Science part of his game. I'm very curious about how you would see the Nicholas Brothers from a Physicist's point of view. They were dancers who made their mark in film and theater mostly during the 1940's and 50's. Their most famous performance can be seen in the film Stormy Weather with Cab Calloway. I've always been fascinated by the role science plays in areas of life that, on the surface, don't seem to be related. By the way, I just "stumbled across your spot here just minutes ago. New subscriber now!

[@LancerSmith]

Thanks so much for subscribing! It means a lot!

[@Agenthai7]

Now that this is physics focused, I've seen 11:39 a billion times now, and I think what happened is that those linebackers never got Barry Sanders off balanced from his center of gravity. I mean they looked like they had him wrapped around, but it didn't seem that Barry really was at their whim to getting tackled. Which sort of makes that highlight more amazing

[@Dattatreya517]

I'm glad the Legend lives on

[@shawnlewis1356]

Thanks for sharing this.. I never watched him but heard the stories. Amazing

[@nicolasbsmith78]

Thanks for taking me down memory lane! He truly was the greatest

[@popsterity]

I don't think there's ever been any question that he is the greatest running back of all time.

[@rodgerlang884]

The greatest pure runner. I'd put Payton up against him any day as a complete running back. Payton was a great running back, receiver and could block as well

[@dremyofit6719]

Real true he was the best ever seen just to much fun to watch! 👀

[@tedbarrett8497]

Every time this guy got the ball in his hands I was on the edge of my seat thinking, something great is about to happen. He's a class act, humble man and the greatest of all time. I'll admit, if I had his skills I would not have been as humble. I probably would have been a showoff.

[@drewt1717]

I'm not sure you (or anyone) would have been a showoff with Barry's abilities. When you are the best, and you know you are the best, and everyone else knows too, there's no reason to be a showoff. Could be wrong, but I feel like people showoff in order to convince others or to draw attention to themselves. In Barry's case, neither was necessary.

[@brianbrown366]

The physics lesson quickly went away. Would have been interesting to understand the coefficent of friction on his runs

[@rhmayer1]

His wide stance was a great advantage when making his jewk moves - when there was no contact. But a wide stance is NOT a stable base, except along the "strong line." A wide stance is a 2-point contact, which is increasingly UNSTABLE the wider the stance. In Judo and Aikido, and perhaps other martial arts, you avoid a wide stance because during a wide stance you are at your most vulnerable position. To illustrate, take and hold a wide stance. Imagine a line running from foot to foot. This is your "strong line." Have someone push you along that strong line in either direction and they will not be able to move you. But now, while still holding that wide stance, imagine a perpendicular line, crossing the strong line right at the midpoint between your feet. This is your "weak line." While you step into or stand in that wide stance someone could merely push you along the weak line with the slightest force, with their pinky, and you will fall over. The point is that a wide 2-point stance is not stable. It just takes good timing to push the person perpendicularly DURING that wide stance. In Barry's case, he's not holding one wide stance but it's a DYNAMIC, quickly changing, wide stance. So just like when in a real fight, the martial artist will have an awareness and anticipate the opponent's steps/footwork to keep awareness of and take advantage of the opponent's weak line. Boxers do this, too. Similarly, when trying to tackle Barry Sanders those D-lineman and LB's and DB's needed to practice and focus on timing of running back's footwork to know when to apply that force to Barry's weak lines, perpendicular to his stepping direction - perhaps anticipating his steps. I know - easier said than done, but he was vulnerable to this during some of those plays, like #3, where they were clumped together. The problem was they were all going after stripping the ball and not trying to tackle him during some of those plays.

[@LancerSmith]

Everyone watching this video needs to reads this! Fascinating! Thanks so much for adding to the information.

[@rhmayer1]

@@LancerSmith Thanks! I also have a physics background (degree in Chemistry, many years working at a national physics lab, etc.) AND I really love football, so I really appreciate your videos! Barry Sanders is also my favorite RB and I was lucky to enjoy watching him live, on TV. But my comment comes more from my Aikido background than my science and engineering background. Once you get into Aikido, you see applications of Aikido everywhere!

[@ryangreen9030]

Love your channel already, hands down nobody will ever compare to Barry Sanders!!

[@Murph_.]

I just wish he played more in the league. The guy is a legend and class act. Watching him is a joy.

[@dudeabides69]

He trained on the dunes by lake Michigan. Dude had legs like tree trunks.

[@Raynis1]

I can watch Barry Sanders highlights forever! Thanks for the video man. Subscribed!!

[@mr.johnson460]

I've watched sooo many highlights over and over again, I'm wondering if I need counseling!

[@careytubbs5316]

Respectfully, totally agree…. Incredible player, incredible human..

[@thomasdonelson4638]

I agree with you Barry Sanders had no blocking no help he made his people looking like they were slow he deserve more wow