Ricky Sanders

For the race car driver, see Ricky Sanders (NASCAR).

Ricky Sanders

No. 46, 83, 80

Position:

Wide receiver

Personal information

Date of birth:

September 30, 1962

Place of birth:

Temple, Texas

Career information

College:

Texas State

Career history

Career highlights and awards

2× Super Bowl champion (XXII, XXVI)
70 Greatest Redskins

Career NFL statistics

Receptions:	483
Receiving yards:	6,477
Touchdowns:	37
Player stats at NFL.com

Ricky Wayne Sanders (born August 30, 1962) is a former American football wide receiver who played professionally for twelve seasons from 1983 to 1994, two with the United States Football League's Houston Gamblers and ten in the National Football League (eight seasons with the Washington Redskins and two with the Atlanta Falcons). He played running back, safety, and place kicker (on kickoffs) as a three-year letterman for Belton High School in Belton, Texas and broke five records.

Career

Sanders was a three-sport star at Belton High School. He made all-region in basketball, placed in three events in the state track meet, and won accolades as a running back. Although recruited by numerous major colleges—including Michigan, UCLA, and Texas Tech, among many others—his junior year, he did not attend any of them. A string of injuries his senior football season may have been a contributing factor.

Sanders played college football at Southwest Texas State University and played two seasons in the United States Football League for the Houston Gamblers and teamed with Jim Kelly making 101 receptions for 1,370 yards and 11 touchdowns.^[1] Sanders had been drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players. New England traded his rights to the Washington Redskins. The Redskins had two talented receivers in the sure handed Art Monk and tough Gary Clark but felt they needed a legitimate deep threat, leading them to acquire the speedy Sanders. The three were the first trio of wide receivers to each surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, and became known as "The Posse."^[2]

Sanders made only 14 catches in 1986, his first NFL season, but proved he was a deep threat averaging 20.4 yards per catch. His next season was better, as he snatched 34 passes from new starting quarterback Jay Schroeder. After Schroeder's eventual ouster at quarterback, his replacement, Doug Williams, loved Sanders' speed and ability to run after the catch and went to him often. This duo was effective and the Redskins fought their way through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl.

Sanders was a standout performer in Super Bowl XXII, catching nine passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning three kickoffs for 46 yards. He set Super Bowl records for most receiving yards (193), most total yards (235), most touchdowns in one quarter (2), most receiving yards in one quarter (168), and longest touchdown reception (80 yards, tie) in Washington's 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos.^[3] Shortly after the Super Bowl win, when the Redskins visited the White House, President Ronald Reagan completed a ceremonial pass to Sanders.

Sanders had arguably his best season in 1988, as he finished fifth in the NFL on receiving yards with 1,148 and second in receiving touchdowns with 12, a Redskins record. The following season was also a good one for Sanders as he made 80 grabs for 1,138 yards, making him one of three 1,000-yard receivers on the team along with Monk and Clark. Sanders' numbers fell off slightly in 1990, to 56 catches for 727 yards.

In the 1991 season, Sanders made 45 catches for 580 yards. The Redskins defeated the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions before beating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI. This was Sanders' second Super Bowl victory, his first having come four years prior, in Super Bowl XXII.

In June 1990, Sanders was accused of hitting a parking attendant with his car outside a Houston nightclub. He was ultimately acquitted in February 1991, but admitted that the whole ordeal weighed heavily on his mind throughout the 1990 season.^[4] Washington drafted top Heisman trophy winning receiver Desmond Howard but he could not unseat Sanders. When Gibbs retired there were coaching and quarterback changes in Washington and Sanders became a free agent after the 1993 season. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 1994 season, and played two seasons with them in 1994 and 1995. Sanders signed with the Miami Dolphins after the 1995 season^[5] but never played a game with them.

Sanders finished his 10 NFL seasons with 483 receptions for 6,477 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also rushed for 94 yards and one touchdown, returned two punts for 12 yards, and gained 636 yards on 33 kickoff returns.

References

↑ 1984 Houston Gamblers retrieved March 5, 2006
↑ "Top Ten Receiving Corps: The Posse". NFL.com. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
↑ Super Bowl receiving records retrieved March 5, 2006
↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/01/sports/football-on-pro-football-redskins-sanders-back-in-step.html
↑ Ricky Sanders is a done deal retrieved March 5, 2006

External links

Washington Redskins Super Bowl XXII champions

6 Ali Haji-Sheikh 10 Jay Schroeder 11 Mark Rypien 12 Steve Cox 17 Doug Williams (MVP) 23 Todd Bowles 24 Kelvin Bryant 26 Craig McEwen 28 Darrell Green 29 Reggie Branch 30 Anthony Allen 31 Clarence Vaughn 32 Vernon Dean 34 Brian Davis 35 Keith Griffin 36 Timmy Smith 38 George Rogers 40 Alvin Walton 41 Tim Morrison 45 Barry Wilburn 46 Dennis Woodberry 50 Ravin Caldwell 51 Monte Coleman 52 Neal Olkewicz 53 Jeff Bostic 54 Kurt Gouveia 55 Mel Kaufman 57 Rich Milot 58 David Jones 61 Rick Kehr 63 Raleigh McKenzie 64 Steve Hamilton 65 Dave Butz 66 Joe Jacoby 67 Kit Lathrop 68 Russ Grimm 69 R. C. Thielemann 71 Charles Mann 72 Dexter Manley 73 Mark May 74 Markus Koch 76 Ed Simmons 77 Darryl Grant 78 Dean Hamel 80 Eric Yarber 81 Art Monk 82 Anthony Jones 83 Ricky Sanders 84 Gary Clark 85 Don Warren 86 Clint Didier 87 Terry Orr 88 Joe Caravello 89 Clarence Verdin

Head coach: Joe Gibbs

Coaches: Chuck Banker Don Breaux Joe Bugel Joe Diange Dan Henning Bill Hickman Paul Lanham Larry Peccatiello Richie Petitbon Jerry Rhome Dan Riley Warren Simmons Charley Taylor Emmitt Thomas LaVern Torgeson

Washington Redskins Super Bowl XXVI champions

2 Kelly Goodburn 6 Cary Conklin (IR) 8 Chip Lohmiller 10 Jeff Rutledge 11 Mark Rypien (MVP) 16 Stan Humphries 20 Alvoid Mays 21 Earnest Byner 26 Danny Copeland 27 Brad Edwards 28 Darrell Green 30 Brian Mitchell 31 Clarence Vaughn 32 Ricky Ervins 34 Terry Hoage 35 Martin Mayhew 37 Gerald Riggs 40 Alvin Walton 45 Sidney Johnson 47 A. J. Johnson 48 Travis Curtis 50 Ravin Caldwell 51 Monte Coleman 53 Jeff Bostic 54 Kurt Gouveia 55 Andre Collins 57 Matt Millen 58 Wilber Marshall 60 Fred Stokes 61 Mark Adickes 62 Ralph Tamm 63 Raleigh McKenzie 65 Mohammed Elewonibi (IR) 66 Joe Jacoby 67 Ray Brown 68 Russ Grimm 69 Mark Schlereth 71 Charles Mann 74 Markus Koch 75 Eric Williams 76 Ed Simmons 78 Tim Johnson 79 Jim Lachey 80 Keenan McCardell (IR) 80 Joe Johnson 81 Art Monk 82 John Brandes 83 Ricky Sanders 84 Gary Clark 85 Don Warren 86 Stephen Hobbs 87 Ron Middleton 88 James Jenkins 88 Jimmie Johnson 89 Terry Orr 94 Bobby Wilson 97 Jumpy Geathers 99 Jason Buck

Head coach: Joe Gibbs

Coaches: Don Breaux Jack Burns Bobby DePaul Rod Dowhower Jim Hanifan Larry Peccatiello Richie Petitbon Dan Riley Wayne Sevier Warren Simmons Charley Taylor Emmitt Thomas LaVern Torgeson Steve Wetzel

70 Greatest Redskins

21 Terry Allen RB 1995–98
41 Mike Bass CB 1969–75
20 Cliff Battles B 1932–37
33 Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52
31 Don Bosseler B 1957–64
53 Jeff Bostic C 1980–93
4 Mike Bragg P 1968–79
80 Gene Brito DE 1951–53, 1955–58
43 Larry Brown RB 1969–76
77 Bill Brundige DE 1970–77
65 Dave Butz DT 1975–88
21 Earnest Byner RB 1989–93
84 Gary Clark WR 1985–92
51 Monte Coleman LB 1979–94
53 Al DeMao C 1945–53
36 Chuck Drazenovich LB 1950–59
35 Bill Dudley RB 1950–51, 1953
17 Turk Edwards T 1932–40
44 Andy Farkas FB 1938–44
37 Pat Fischer CB 1968–77
28 Darrell Green CB 1983–2002
68 Russ Grimm G 1981–91
55 Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78
57 Ken Harvey LB 1994–98
56 Len Hauss C 1964–77
27 Ken Houston S 1973–80
70 Sam Huff LB 1964–67, 1969
66 Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93
47 Dick James RB 1955–63
9 Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74
22 Charlie Justice RB 1950, 1952–54
17 Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78
26 Paul Krause DB 1964–67
79 Jim Lachey T 1988–95
14 Eddie LeBaron QB 1952–53, 1955–59
72 Dexter Manley DE 1981–89
71 Charles Mann DE 1983–93
58 Wilber Marshall LB 1988–92
73 Mark May T 1981–89
79 Ron McDole DE 1971–78
63 Raleigh McKenzie G 1985–94
53 Harold McLinton LB 1969–78
40 Wayne Millner E 1936–41, 1945
49 Bobby Mitchell FL 1962–68
30 Brian Mitchell RB 1990–99
81 Art Monk WR 1980–93
3 Mark Moseley K 1974–86
29 Mark Murphy S 1977–84
21 Mike Nelms KR 1980–84
52 Neal Olkewicz LB 1979–89
23 Brig Owens LB 1966–77
65 Vince Promuto G 1960–70
44 John Riggins RB 1976–79, 1981–85
11 Mark Rypien QB 1987–93
83 Ricky Sanders WR 1986–93
76 Ed Simmons T 1987–93
87 Jerry Smith TE 1965–77
60 Dick Stanfel G 1956–58
74 George Starke T 1973–84
72 Diron Talbert DT 1971–80
84 Hugh (Bones) Taylor E 1947–54
42 Charley Taylor WR 1964–77
7 Joe Theismann QB 1974–85
67 Rusty Tillman LB 1970–77
85 Don Warren TE 1979–92
25 Joe Washington RB 1981–84
17 Doug Williams QB 1986–89

Coaches

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77
Ray Flaherty Head Coach 1936–42
Joe Gibbs Head Coach 1981–92

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