Bob Sanders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bob Sanders

Sanders with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007
No. 21, 31
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1981-02-24) February 24, 1981 (age 44) Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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
Indianapolis Colts (2004) San Diego Chargers (2011)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLI) NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2007) 2× First-team All-Pro (2005, 2007) 2× Pro Bowl (2005, 2007) Second-team All-American (2003) 3× First-team All-Big Ten (2001–2003)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 307 Sacks: 3.5 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 3 Interceptions: 6 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Bob Sanders, born on February 24, 1981, is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. Sanders played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Indianapolis Colts chose him in the 2004 NFL draft.

He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. Bob Sanders also played for the San Diego Chargers in his last season in 2011. People called him "the Sandman" because of his powerful tackles. His coach, Tony Dungy, also called him "the Eraser." This was because he often fixed mistakes made by his teammates.

Early Life and High School Football

Bob Sanders grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. He started high school at Central Tech. Later, he moved to Cathedral Preparatory School. There, he was a star player in football. He played as a running back and a safety.

Sanders played football for all four years of high school. He was 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. He was also a first-team All-State selection.

During his senior season, he ran for 900 yards. He scored 17 touchdowns. He helped his team get a 13–1 record. They even made it to the state championship game. Sanders graduated in 2000. He also practiced kickboxing when he was younger.

College Football Career

Bob Sanders received a scholarship to play for the University of Iowa. He joined the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. He played well even as a freshman. He was recognized as an honorable mention All-Big Ten player.

Sanders was named to three All-Big Ten teams during his college career. In his senior year, he was named second-team All-American. He worked hard to improve his speed and jumping ability. His 40-yard dash time improved from 4.6 to 4.3 seconds. His vertical jump went from 30 to 44 inches.

At Iowa, he earned another nickname: "Hit Man." This was because of his strong and physical style of play. In his final game at Kinnick Stadium, he forced three fumbles. One of these fumbles happened right at the goal line.

Professional Football Journey

Playing for the Indianapolis Colts

Rookie Season in 2004

In his first year, Sanders mostly 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.

On November 14, he made 13 tackles. He also recovered a fumble and ran it 37 yards for his first NFL touchdown. This happened against the Houston Texans. He also had 9 tackles and a fumble recovery against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Super Bowl Victory in 2006

Sanders played only four games in the 2006 regular season. He had a knee injury early on. In those four games, he made 27 tackles. He was called "the Eraser" for his tough hits. These hits often stopped big plays by opposing teams.

The Colts' defense struggled with stopping the run that year. But in the playoffs, Sanders returned from his injury. He brought new energy to the defense. With him, the Colts had the second-best run defense in the playoffs. They allowed only 73.3 rushing yards per game.

Sanders helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI. He made a key play in the AFC Championship game. This was against the New England Patriots. With the Patriots trying to win, Sanders deflected a pass. This forced them to punt. It gave Peyton Manning a chance to score the winning touchdown.

In the Super Bowl against the Chicago Bears, Sanders made several important plays. He forced a fumble from running back Cedric Benson. He also intercepted quarterback Rex Grossman. These plays helped the Colts win 29–17.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2007

In the 2007 NFL season, Sanders 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 helped the Colts win 22–20.

Sanders finished the year with 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He also deflected six passes. With him playing, the Colts had one of the best pass defenses. Their run defense also improved greatly. Coach Tony Dungy saw Sanders as a perfect safety for his defense. Sanders often came close to the line of scrimmage to help stop runs.

On December 28, 2007, Sanders signed a big contract. It was for five years and $37.5 million. This made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at that time.

On January 7, 2008, Sanders was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. He was the first Colts player to win this award. He was also only the fourth safety in NFL history to win it. Sanders received 31 votes from 50 media members. His presence made the Colts' defense much tougher. The team's average yards allowed per run dropped from 5.3 in 2006 to 3.8 in 2007.

Later Years with the Colts (2008–2010)

Sanders missed parts of the 2008 season due to a high ankle sprain. He returned in Week 9 against the Patriots. He made a game-sealing interception in that game. This was his first interception of the season. Coach Tony Dungy said Sanders was almost 100% healthy.

However, knee injuries continued to bother him. He missed more games due to swelling in his knee. This was a problem he had since his rookie season. In 2008, he played in six games. He had 39 tackles and one interception. The Colts lost in the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers.

In 2009, Sanders played only two games. He had an arm injury and was placed on injured reserve. He recorded six tackles and one interception. In 2010, he left the first game with an injury. He later had a torn biceps tendon. This ended his season.

On February 18, 2011, the Colts released Sanders. He had played only nine games in the previous three seasons. He said, "I always will consider myself a Colt." He thanked the fans for their support.

Time with the San Diego Chargers

Sanders signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Chargers for the 2011 season. On September 28, 2011, he was placed on injured reserve. This was due to knee swelling after playing the Patriots. It was his fourth season in a row ending on injured reserve.

NFL Career Statistics