Emmanuel Sanders facts for kids
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Sanders with the Bills in 2021
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| No. 88, 10, 17, 1 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | March 17, 1987 Bellville, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Bellville | ||||||||||
| College: | SMU (2005–2009) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 3 / Pick: 82 | ||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||
Emmanuel Niamiah Sanders (born March 17, 1987) is a former American football wide receiver. He played for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the SMU Mustangs. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in 2010. Sanders won Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and Buffalo Bills.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Emmanuel Sanders grew up in Bellville, Texas. He was a talented athlete at Bellville High School. He played four different sports: football, basketball, baseball, and track.
In football, he was especially good. He played as a running back, wide receiver, and safety. As a senior, he ran for 499 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 414 yards and one touchdown. On defense, he made 49 tackles and had three interceptions. He was named his team's MVP.
College Football Career
After high school, Sanders went to Southern Methodist University. He was a starter for three years. He earned All-Conference honors in his last two seasons.
First Years at SMU
As a freshman, Sanders scored his first college touchdown in 2006. He had a great game against Houston, catching nine passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. That year, he had 46 receptions for 605 yards and nine touchdowns.
In 2007, as a sophomore, he had 74 receptions for 889 yards and nine touchdowns. He had a standout game against Memphis, catching 13 passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns.
As a junior in 2008, he continued to perform well. He had 67 receptions for 958 yards and nine touchdowns. He had a game with three touchdowns against Texas State.
Senior Season Success
Sanders had a very strong senior year in 2009. He caught 18 passes for 178 yards against Washington State. He also had games with over 130 receiving yards against Alabama-Birmingham, Rice, and UTEP.
In the Hawaii Bowl, he caught seven passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. He finished his senior year with 98 receptions for 1,339 yards and seven touchdowns. He led his conference in receiving yards that year.
Professional Football Journey
Emmanuel Sanders was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. He then played for several other NFL teams.
Pittsburgh Steelers Years
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Sanders in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was the seventh wide receiver chosen that year.
Rookie Season (2010)
Sanders made his NFL debut in the Steelers' first game of 2010. He caught his first NFL pass in October. He scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 10 against the New England Patriots.
He finished his first year with 28 catches for 376 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned kicks. The Steelers made it to Super Bowl XLV that year. Sanders played in the Super Bowl, catching two passes before getting a foot injury. The Steelers lost to the Green Bay Packers.
Later Steelers Seasons (2011-2013)
Sanders dealt with foot and knee injuries in 2011. He played in 11 games, catching 22 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2012, he became a more important player for the Steelers. He had 44 catches for 626 yards and one touchdown.
In 2013, Sanders became a starting wide receiver. He had a good season with 67 catches for 740 yards and six touchdowns. After this season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Denver Broncos Era
In 2014, the Denver Broncos signed Emmanuel Sanders. He joined the team to be a key receiver.
Breakout Season (2014)
Sanders quickly became a star for the Broncos. He had a career-high 11 catches for 149 yards against the Seattle Seahawks. He also had a game with three touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers.
He finished the 2014 season with 101 catches, 1,404 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. These were all career bests for him. Because of his great performance, Sanders was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. The Broncos won their division but lost in the playoffs.
Super Bowl Champion (2015)
In 2015, Sanders continued to play well. He had 76 catches for 1,135 yards and six touchdowns. He had a huge game against his old team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with 10 catches for 181 yards.
The Broncos had a fantastic season, finishing as the top team in their conference. They won their playoff games and reached Super Bowl 50. In the Super Bowl, Sanders led all receivers with six catches for 83 yards. The Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10, and Sanders became a Super Bowl champion!
Consistent Play (2016-2018)
In 2016, Sanders signed a new contract with the Broncos. He had another strong season with 79 catches for 1,032 yards and five touchdowns. This was his third year in a row with over 1,000 receiving yards. He earned his second Pro Bowl nomination.
In 2017, Sanders played in 12 games, catching 47 passes for 555 yards and two touchdowns. He missed some games due to an ankle injury.
He started 2018 well, with 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown in the first game. He even threw a touchdown pass in Week 7! However, his season ended early in December when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice. He finished with 71 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers (2019)
Sanders recovered from his injury and started the 2019 season with the Broncos. In October 2019, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.
He quickly made an impact with the 49ers. In one game, he threw a 35-yard touchdown pass and caught seven passes for 157 yards and a 75-yard touchdown. He helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV. In the Super Bowl, he had three catches for 38 yards, but the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
New Orleans Saints (2020)
In April 2020, Sanders signed with the New Orleans Saints. He had a career-high 12 catches for 122 yards in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the 2020 season with 61 catches for 726 yards and five touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills (2021)
On his birthday in March 2021, Sanders signed with the Buffalo Bills. He played in 14 games, catching 42 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown in the Bills' playoff games.
Retirement from Football
Emmanuel Sanders announced his retirement from football on September 7, 2022. He retired as an honorary member of the Denver Broncos, the team he won a Super Bowl with. He said he gave the game his all, every single play.
Life After Playing
After retiring, Sanders joined the NFL Network as an analyst. He started appearing on NFL GameDay Morning in September 2022. He also appears on other NFL Network shows and podcasts, sharing his football knowledge.
Images for kids
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Sanders in 2012
See also
In Spanish: Emmanuel Sanders para niños
