Bob Sanders facts for kids
Sanders with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | February 24, 1981 Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 206 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Cathedral Prep (Erie) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Iowa | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2004 / Round: 2 / Pick: 44 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Demond "Bob" Sanders (born February 24, 1981) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. Bob Sanders was known for his powerful hits and was a key player for the Indianapolis Colts. He helped them win Super Bowl XLI and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.
Sanders earned the nickname "the Sandman" because of his strong tackles. His coach, Tony Dungy, also called him "the Eraser." This was because he often made big plays that fixed mistakes by his teammates. Unfortunately, Bob Sanders faced many injuries during his career. He only played more than six games in a season twice, in 2005 and 2007.
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Early Life and High School Football
Bob Sanders grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. He first attended Central Tech High School. Later, he transferred to Cathedral Preparatory School. There, he became a star player in football.
He played both running back and safety. Sanders earned a letter in football for four years. He was also chosen for the All-Conference team twice. As a junior, he was a third-team All-State player. In his senior year, he was a team captain and a first-team All-State selection. He rushed for 900 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. His team had a great 13–1 record and reached the state championship game. Sanders graduated in 2000. He also practiced kickboxing when he was younger.
College Career at Iowa
Bob Sanders received a scholarship to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. He started playing as a freshman. He was recognized as honorable mention All-Big Ten. Sanders was named to the All-Big Ten team three times during his college career.
As a senior, he was named second-team All-American. He improved his speed and jumping ability a lot in college. He was nicknamed "Hit Man" at Iowa. This was because of his strong and physical playing style. In his final game at Kinnick Stadium, he forced three fumbles. One of these was a crucial fumble near the goal line.
Professional Football Journey
Bob Sanders was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2004. He quickly became known for his aggressive play. Even though he faced injuries, he made a huge impact.
Starting with the Colts (2004-2006)
As a rookie in 2004, Sanders played as a backup safety. He also played on special teams. His season was cut short by foot and knee injuries. However, he still had some great moments. In one game, he made 13 tackles and scored his first NFL touchdown. He returned a fumble recovery 37 yards against the Houston Texans.
In 2006, Sanders played only four regular season games. This was due to a knee injury. Despite this, he made 27 tackles. He was called "the Eraser" because his powerful hits stopped big plays. The Colts' defense struggled with stopping the run that year. But when Sanders returned for the playoffs, he energized the defense. The Colts became much better at stopping the run. They allowed only 73.3 rushing yards per game in the playoffs.
Sanders made a crucial play in the AFC Championship game. He deflected a pass that could have sealed the game for the New England Patriots. This gave Peyton Manning a chance to lead the Colts to a game-winning touchdown. In Super Bowl XLI, Sanders continued to make big plays. He forced a fumble and made an interception. These plays helped the Colts win the Super Bowl 29–17.
Defensive Player of the Year (2007)
The 2007 season was Bob Sanders' best. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2. He had 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks against the Tennessee Titans. He was key in stopping Vince Young at the end of the game. This secured a 22–20 victory for the Colts.
Sanders finished the year with 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. With him on the field, the Colts had one of the best pass defenses. They also improved their run defense. Coach Tony Dungy saw him as a perfect safety for their defense. Sanders often moved closer to the line of scrimmage to help stop runs.
In December 2007, Sanders signed a big five-year contract. It was worth $37.5 million. This made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at the time. On January 7, 2008, Sanders was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. He was the first Colt and only the fourth safety ever to win this award. His presence made the Colts' defense much tougher.
Later Seasons and Retirement (2008-2011)
Sanders continued to battle injuries after his amazing 2007 season. In 2008, he missed several games due to a high ankle sprain. He returned and made a game-sealing interception against the Patriots. However, knee swelling caused him to miss more games. He played in only six games that season.
In 2009, Sanders played only two games before an arm injury ended his season. He recorded six tackles and one interception. The 2010 season was also cut short by injury. He suffered a torn biceps tendon in the first game. He was placed on injured reserve, ending his season early again.
On February 18, 2011, the Colts released Bob Sanders. He had played only nine games in the previous three seasons. He shared that he would "always consider myself a Colt." He thanked the fans for their support.
Sanders signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Chargers for the 2011 season. However, his knee issues continued. He was placed on injured reserve in September 2011. This was his fourth season in a row ending on injured reserve. He officially retired from professional football.
NFL Career Highlights
Bob Sanders played in 50 NFL games during his career. He recorded 302 total tackles. He also had 3.5 sacks, 6 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. His impact on the field, especially in 2007, was huge. He showed great toughness and skill as a safety.
