Barry Sanders, widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, left the sports world in shock when he unexpectedly retired before the 1999 season.

His decision stunned not only the Detroit Lions but also the entire NFL, especially since it came on the eve of training camp, communicated through a fax to The Wichita Eagle, his hometown newspaper.

For years, Sanders kept quiet about the reasons behind his sudden departure, but during a recent appearance on the Get Got Pod with Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson, he opened up about the factors that led to his retirement.

According to Sanders, there came a point in his career where the passion and drive just weren’t there anymore.

At the age of 28 or 29, Sanders explained that the “everyday grind” of staying at the top of his game began to feel overwhelming.

He realized he was no longer motivated by the same fire that had propelled him earlier in his career.

Furthermore, the Lions were in a rebuilding phase, and Sanders felt that staying on a team that wasn’t close to competing for a championship didn’t align with his goals.

Although he had accomplished everything except a Super Bowl title, he didn’t see a path to that achievement with the current roster.

The lack of passion and the team’s direction led Sanders to make the difficult decision to retire.

He acknowledged that if his heart and mind weren’t fully invested, he needed to move on and be somewhere else.

He walked away from the game with an incredible 15,269 rushing yards and 99 rushing touchdowns.

Fast forward to today, and the Lions are a completely different team.

No longer mired in mediocrity, Detroit is now viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Sanders, too, believes the franchise is on the verge of something special.

He praised their steady improvement over the past few seasons, noting how the team has gradually built a strong roster both offensively and defensively.

Sanders sees the Lions as a genuine title contender, saying, “It has to be, it has to be absolutely.”

With their success this season, the Lions are only behind the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl odds, and Sanders is optimistic that the time has finally come for Detroit to capture their first championship.