Charlie Sanders, Detroit Lions Tight End And Pro Hall Of Famer, Dies At 68
DETROIT (WWJ) - Sad news coming from the Detroit Lions Thursday afternoon with the announcement that former Detroit Lions great Charlie Sanders has died.
A release from the organization outlines the stellar career of Sanders, who was 68, died after a long battle with cancer.
Sanders was inducted into the Pro Hall of Fame in 2007 when he became only the seventh tight end enshrined in NFL history. He played his entire 10-year (1968-77) NFL career with the Lions, and recorded 336 career receptions for 4,817 yards and 31 touchdowns. He is considered the 'finest Tight End in Detroit Lions history,' and he proved to be a "secret weapon" in the passing game during a period where the tight end was primarily a blocker.
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As tributes pour in to memorialize one of the NFL's all-time greats, a comment made decades ago by the late Russ Thomas, long-time general manager of the Lions, still rings true.
"If there ever was an original Lion," Thomas said in a private conversation, "it's Charlie Sanders."
His 336 career receptions set a franchise record that would hold for 20 seasons until it was surpassed by Herman Moore in 1996. He led the Lions or was a co-leader in receptions six times, and he garnered 30 or more receptions seven times in addition to reaching 500 yards in six seasons. Sanders was selected to seven Pro Bowls, was a two-time All-Pro (1970-71) and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
Drafted by the Lions in the third round from the University of Minnesota in 1968, Sanders was the only rookie that season selected to play in the Pro Bowl and he finished second to then-teammate Earl McCullough for NFL Rookie of the Year honors. In his first season, he hauled in 40 passes for 533 yards and scored one touchdown, and perhaps the single-greatest game of his career occurred in the season finale when he grabbed 10 receptions for 133 yards against Washington.
He would prove during his career his extraordinary ability by combining great leaping ability, big hands, strength, speed and elusiveness—traits not common for tight ends of his era. Sanders was one of the first tight ends who brought experience in both college football and basketball, much like TE Tony Gonzalez and TE Antonio Gates in today's game.
A lingering knee injury forced him to retire.
Although he grew up in North Carolina, he never left Metro Detroit after his first day as a Lion.
"This is home," he once said. "The city has always been nice. It's been nice to me, nice to my family. I enjoy coming to work.
"I just enjoy the Lions."
As great of a player that Sanders was on the field, he has had an even greater presence off the field helping countless charitable organizations. Sanders, who was the Lions' Assistant Director of Pro Personnel and had been affiliated with the Lions in various capacities for 40 years, he was always committed to assisting community efforts. While a player, Sanders annually supported March of Dimes and was a United Way spokesman for the team.
