Charlie Sanders facts for kids
Sanders (far right) at his Pro Football Hall of Fame Bust Unveiling Ceremony at Ford Field in 2007
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| No. 88 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
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| Born: | August 25, 1946 Richlands, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Died: | July 2, 2015 (aged 68) Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | James B. Dudley (Greensboro, North Carolina) |
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| College: | Minnesota | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1968 / Round: 3 / Pick: 74 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Charles "Charlie" Alvin Sanders (born August 25, 1946 – died July 2, 2015) was a famous American football player. He played as a tight end for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL) from 1968 to 1977. Charlie Sanders was recognized as one of the best players of his time. He was chosen for the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team. In 2007, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is a huge honor for football players.
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Growing Up and High School Years
Charlie Sanders was born in 1946 in Richlands, North Carolina. He went to James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. There, he was a talented athlete. He played for the school's football, basketball, and baseball teams.
College Football at Minnesota
After high school, Sanders attended the University of Minnesota. He played college football for the Golden Gophers team. In his final year, he was named to the All-Big Ten Conference Team. That year, he caught 21 passes for 276 yards and scored two touchdowns. His team tied for the Big Ten championship with an 8–2 record.
Playing for the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions picked Charlie Sanders in the third round of the 1968 NFL Draft. He quickly became their main tight end. He played for the Lions for ten seasons. During his career, he caught 336 passes for 4,817 yards. He also scored 31 touchdowns. Sanders was also known as an excellent blocker.
He was chosen for the Pro Bowl seven times. This happened in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, and 1976. He was the only rookie player to be named to the 1969 Pro Bowl. In that first season, he had 40 catches for 533 yards. Sanders was also named a first-team All-Pro in 1970 and 1971. He received the most votes of any player in both of those years.
In 1976, he hurt his right knee during a game. But he kept playing until he retired in November 1977 at age 31.
Sanders was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team. This team is chosen by the voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He also joined the Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2008, Sanders was chosen for the Lions' 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Life After Playing Football
After retiring from playing, Charlie Sanders stayed involved with the Detroit Lions. From 1983 to 1988, he worked as a radio announcer for Lions games. Then, he became an assistant coach for wide receivers from 1989 to 1996. He returned to radio broadcasts in 1997. Later, he joined the Lions' front office as a scout. In 2000, he became the team's assistant director of pro personnel. He held this job until he passed away.
In 2005, he helped write a book called Charlie Sanders' Tales from the Detroit Lions. This book shared fun stories about the team and its players.
Community Work and Charity
Charlie Sanders was also very active in his community. He worked with the Lions' community relations department. He was a spokesman for organizations like the United Way and The March of Dimes.
In 2007, he started The Charlie Sanders Foundation. This foundation gave two college scholarships each year. These scholarships helped students from Oakland County, Monroe, Michigan, and his home state of North Carolina.
In 2012, he started the "Have A Heart Save A Life" program. This program was part of his foundation. It raised money to provide heart (EKG) screenings for young people. The first "Charlie Sanders Have A Heart Save A Life Celebrity Golf Outing" was held in August 2012. It took place in West Bloomfield, Michigan. In 2014, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital honored Sanders for all his charity work.
Family and Later Life
Charlie Sanders and his wife, Georgianna, had nine children. They lived in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Their children are Mia, Charese, Mary Jo, Georgianna Jr., Charlie Jr., Nathalie, Talissa, Wayne, and Jordan. One of his daughters, Mary Jo, became a professional boxer. Three of his sons played college football. Charlie Sanders Jr. played at Ohio State University and briefly played for the Detroit Lions. Another son played at Saginaw Valley State University. A third son also played at Saginaw Valley State University after transferring from Michigan State University.
Charlie Sanders faced a serious illness (cancer) that was found during a knee surgery. He received treatment but passed away on July 2, 2015, in Royal Oak, Michigan.
