Spec Sanders was chosen by the Washington Redskins as the 6th Overall Pick in the 1942 NFL Draft, but as this occurred during WWII, Sanders would serve his country in the military until the end of the war. Afterward, Sanders would join the New York Yankees of the AAFC, and arguably he would become the first unquestioned offensive juggernaut of the new league.
In 1946, he was the inaugural Rushing Champion with 709 Yards and would also finish atop the AAFC leaderboard in Rushing Touchdowns (6) and All-Purpose Yards (968). That was good, but Sanders would shatter that in 1947 where he would have 1,432 Rushing Yards and 18 TDs on the ground. It would take over a decade for those single-season numbers to be eclipsed as Jim Brown would rush for 1,527 Yards in 1958, and Jim Taylor would break his rushing Touchdown record in 1962. Sanders was also one of the better passers in those two years, and his offensive prowess in the AAFC had few, if any, equals.
Knee issues force his early retirement, but he would return in 1950 with the New York Yanks of the NFL, and while focusing on the defensive side of the ball, he would set a then record of 13 Interceptions for a season. That would be the last year that Sanders played pro football, but for a brief career, it certainly was spectacular!
What obviously hurts Sanders in his Hall of Fame quest is that the teams he played for no longer exist, and his best run happened a league that was absorbed in 1950. It is next to impossible for a legacy to get past those two obstacles.
Comments powered by CComment