The great Barry Sanders retired young, at the age of 30, shocking the world

Unfortunately, some of the best athletes decide to leave the game in thier prime.  The reasons for this usually vary, as pressure, fear of injury, and wanted to go a different path in life are some of the popular causes.  Regardless of the reason, when a player leaves when he is young and on top – it shocks the sporting world.

It was on this day, July 28th, 1999, that the great Barry Sanders left the game of football.  And while many thought he would return, he never did.  #20 was one of the most exciting NFL football players ever, and the city of Detroit was crushed when he left the game.

Many people didn’t get it – and Barry wasn’t extremely open in explaining his reasons for retiring.  Barry set many NFL records, but he never played in a Super Bowl, which made many question his commitment to his team and city.  Barry Sanders is one of the best running backs ever, however had he played another 4 or 5 seasons, he would have probably been considered the greatest running back ever.