Why did Barry Sanders retire from the NFL?

The documentary "Barry Sanders: A Football Life" covers Sanders' beginnings as a football star in Kansas, to his college days at Oklahoma State, his 10 years ... read more

Still seemingly in his prime, Sanders unexpectedly retired from football after the 1998 season, 1,457 yards short of breaking the NFL's all-time rushing record. His number 20 jersey was retired by the Lions, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. read more

Sanders, who ranks third on the NFL's all-time rushing list, retired in the prime of his career and did so by faxing a statement to the Wichita Eagles newspaper. The film opens with him reading that statement for the first time. read more

He wanted to leave Detroit and play for Miami. Detroit, to their ever lasting discredit, refused to let the greatest player in the team's history go. read more