Barry Sanders Was Simply Better: Settling the Debate

Barry is Simply Better: Time to Settle the Debate vs Emmitt

Both were drafted in the 1st round. Both had elite careers in the NFL. Both find themselves on the first page of nearly every rushing statistic. Both are Hall of Famers. But, for those who think Emmitt Smith is the NFL’s greatest all-time running back, this article is here to dispel that myth.

Emmitt Smith wowed fans at the collegiate level, becoming the Florida Gators’ all-time leading rusher. His 3,928 yards on the ground in Gainesville are nothing to sneeze at. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys brass saw a runner who could be the cornerstone of their franchise, and took Smith 17th overall in 1989. He enjoyed a prolific career, helping the Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships. He is at the top of the list in NFL history among running backs in total rushing yards (18,355) and touchdowns via the ground (164). No one can take any of that away from Smith, and no one can rightfully argue his place in the pantheon of football’s best.

However, Barry Sanders did even more, aside from hoisting Lombardi Trophies. Sanders didn’t even start at Oklahoma State until his senior year, as he sat and watched Thurman Thomas tote the pigskin at an elite level.  And although Sanders didn’t start until year four, he’s the program’s 5th all-time leading rusher in Stillwater. His highlight reel earned him a 3rd overall pick by the Detroit Lions in 1989, the same year Smith would enter the NFL.

Even Thomas, who kept Sanders on the bench at Oklahoma State, had this to say, “He is a very special guy to me and every time I talk about him, I always bring up the fact that he is the greatest running back to ever play the game.” And then there’s this from then-head coach of the rival Oklahoma Sooners’ Barry Switzer to his players, “Do not hurt Thurman Thomas.” His worry and message was directly attributed to the fact that he didn’t want Sanders to enter the game.

Weapons

Emmitt benefited from the draft far more than did Sanders, who went to a lowly franchise in Detroit. Emmitt was surrounded by talent on both sides of the ball. He was fortunate to have the likes of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Alvin Harper as offensive weapons. And he was blessed to have one of the most impressive O-lines ever blocking and opening up huge holes for him. As for Barry, the offenses he played for in Detroit were anemic. If you can remember some of the quarterbacks he played with, congratulations– you are a true aficionado of the NFL. Among the signal callers on the Lions during Sanders’ time there were Bob Gagliano, Erik Kramer, and Rodney Peete. Unlike Emmitt Smith, defenses against the Lions had the luxury of stacking the box and honing in on Sanders. There was no variety in the playbook. Everyone in the stadium knew who was going to get the ball, and it didn’t matter.

The Wow Factor

Sanders was not only a good runner between the tackles, he was an improvisational wizard– much of it due to necessity. Unlike any other back in league history, his moves were eye-popping pieces of cinematic artistry. He would routinely make three or more would-be tacklers miss, and even fall down, as a result of his sharp cuts and zig-zag prowess. He was more like a video game than a human being in shoulder pads. Between he and Smith, Sanders unquestionably won the eyeball test. Fellow Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis, said this of Sanders, “Barry is exceptional in the way he runs. He’s very efficient, has great vision…talk about power.”

Stats

Let’s circle back to some stats now, as on the surface, Emmitt Smith had better overall statistics. But in a deeper dive, you’ll find that Sanders’ numbers were superior. Smith averaged 4.2 yards per attempt, while Sanders’ output was a godly 5.0 per carry. Only four backs have ever averaged more over a career. Smith averaged 1,223 yards a season, while Sanders averaged 1,527. Smith played for 15 years, while Sanders retired after only 10 seasons in Motown. At his pace, and assuming there would be some dropoff on that pace, if Sanders had suited up for five more seasons like Smith, he would’ve very likely hit the 21,000 career yard mark.

In Closing

This article was not intended to take down Emmitt Smith. The intent was to elevate the status of Barry Sanders in the public eye. Both were premier and elite NFL running backs, two of the best to ever suit up on Sundays. One more thing to close this out– if the roles were reversed…Smith on the Lions and Sanders on the Cowboys, this author believes unquestionably that Barry Sanders would go down, as hands down, the greatest running back the NFL has ever seen.