Barry Sanders speaking on show (left). Sanders running with football (right).Barry Sanders (Photos via YouTube and Getty Images)
For over two decades, one of the great NFL mysteries was the true reason behind Barry Sanders’ abrupt retirement in 1999.

Barry Sanders shocked the football world when he announced he was walking away from football after his age-30 season. That’s awfully old for a running back in this day and age, but the Detroit Lions legend was coming off another excellent season in which he recorded 1,491 rushing yards and nearly 1,800 yards of offense.

Sanders kept the reasons behind his retirement decision private for nearly a quarter-century, before finally opening up on it in the 2023 Amazon Prime documentary, “Bye Bye Barry.”

During a recent appearance on the “Get Got Pod” co-hosted by former NFL superstar running back Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson, Barry Sanders elaborated on his retirement decision.

“That every day grind, all those little things you have to do to stay on top of your game. For me, when I got to 28-29, I just felt like it wasn’t there. Also…things going on with the team. I felt like we were kind of rebuilding, there was no need to stay around. I had pretty much done everything besides win a Super Bowl.

Being that we were kind of rebuilding, I didn’t really see that in my sights. That drive, that passion I always had, it just you know, wasn’t there in the same way….I need to be somewhere else on Sunday if my mind and heart really isn’t there.”

Indeed, the Lions were never close to Super Bowl contention. They snuck into the postseason in 1999 with an 8-8 record, only to fall 27-13 to Washington in the Wild Card Round. After that, Detroit wouldn’t make the postseason again until 2011.

Barry Sanders retired with 15,269, so he would have broken Walter Payton’s rushing record of 16,726 if he played one or two more seasons. Of course, Emmitt Smith is now the all-time rushing king (18,355), and Frank Gore leapfrogged Sanders for third on the career leaderboard (16,000).

Barry Sanders Isn’t The Only Legend Who Retired While In His Prime

Sanders isn’t the only NFL great who stunned many by walking away from football while he was still in his prime. Jim Brown, widely regarded as the greatest running back ever, retired after his age-29 season despite winning league MVP honors.

Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck

 retired just before his 30th birthday in 2019 after being named the 2018 Comeback Player of the Year. In 2020, Carolina Panthers superstar linebacker Luke Kuechly called it quits at age 28 because of concussions.

Suspicious NFL Fans Are Accusing Deshaun Watson Of Using A Burner Account From The Locker Room At Halftime To Defend Himself During Browns’ Loss To Raiders

Deshaun Watson in uniformDeshaun Watson (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
In the wake of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s miserable season-opening outing against the Dallas Cowboys, Browns fans speculated if he had a burner account to defend himself.

Internet detectives zoned in on the X account of one Leroy Bickerstaff (@LeroyBickers4), who has posted glowing remarks about Watson despite a disappointing start to the season.

That was then, and this is now.

It appears that fans have found a separate account that is now being linked to Deshaun Watson.

The account, @VPritchs, suddenly began defending the Browns quarterback during halftime of Sunday’s game, and many accused the quarterback of running the page and tweeting from the locker room.

The Cleveland Browns had multiple opportunities in the fourth quarter to rally for a win for the second straight week, but they ultimately fell short.

Deshaun Watson said to blame himself after Cleveland blew an early 10-0 lead and lost 20-16 to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

The loss dropped the team to 1-3 on the year.

Deshaun Watson Is Once Again Dealing With More Off The Filed Trouble Amid Rough Season

Deshaun Watson and the Browns lost yet again on Sunday, Falling to the Raiders, 20-16, in Las Vegas.

He finished the game by completing 24 of 32 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Watson’s woes on the field can also be attributed to what he is dealing with off the field, as another woman is accusing him of sexual assault stemming from an alleged October 2020 incident in a new lawsuit filed earlier this month.

He was previously suspended for 11 games in 2022 and fined $5 million by the league amid accusations of sexual misconduct by massage therapists.

Twenty-three of the 24 civil lawsuits filed against Watson were settled in 2022, according to ESPN.

Travis Kelce Used One Word To Describe His Whirlwind Relationship With Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift kissingLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift embrace after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Travis Kelce is proud to have girlfriend Taylor Swift by his side, and he doesn’t mind that the whole world is watching.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been dating since at least September 2023 when she shocked everybody by showing up to Arrowhead Stadium. The move came months after Kelce first publicly expressed interest in Swift, after attending one of her concerts and failing to send a friendship bracelet to her with his number on it.

Travis Kelce knows just how obsessed the world is with his relationship.

“I’m very aware,” Kelce said when asked whether he understands the “impact” his romance with Taylor Swift was having on the NFL.

“Obviously, this is mostly because Taylor’s in my life now and we got her [to be] part of Chiefs Kingdom,” he explained in a resurfaced interview with sports reporter Laura Okmin ahead of the Super Bowl.

“And sure enough, that brought an entire entourage of human beings who just love to support her and love to support everything that she’s about.”

He used an incredible word to describe their relationship.

“With that being said, I do, you know, have a guarded approach to it,” he explained before Super Bowl 58. “But at the same time, I know what me and Taylor have is special, so I get [the interest].”

Taylor Swift was spotted at 13 of Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs football games this past season, first popping up in a box at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri on Sept. 24, 2023. The team won 10 of the 13 games at which she’s been in attendance.

That also included the team winning playoff games over the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and then the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.

Kelce finished the Super Bowl with nine receptions for 93 yards, including a crucial catch in overtime.

The 34-year-old slowed down slightly in 2023, finishing with 93 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns. It should be noted he did miss two games, Week 1 due to injury and Week 17 as he chose to sit out with the Chiefs not playing for anything.