Barry Sanders: Life After a Heart Attack, His Growing Legacy, and Leaving the Game at 99 Rushing TDs

NFL: Good Morning Football

iHeartPodcasts and NFL

Sports, Football

4.4 • 634 Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2025

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Hall of Famer Barry Sanders joins Roman Harper and Peanut Tillman on the NFL Players: Second Acts Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Barry explains why winning the Heisman Trophy remains the most meaningful accolade of his career and talks about how his legacy has continued to grow in retirement, with many young fans discovering him through Madden and social media, and how he’s become more open to sharing his story over the years. Barry also opens up about recovering from a heart attack and his recently released documentary Making of a Heart Attack, which details that life-changing experience. The guys dive into the resurgence of the Detroit Lions and what it means for the city, reflect on Barry’s decision to step away from the game just one rushing touchdown shy of 100, and hear which of his records he believes will stand the test of time.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an IHeart podcast.
0:04.4	Creativity is personal.
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0:23.7	One device, all your worlds.
0:25.9	Shop now at Lenovo.com slash back to school.
0:31.2	Bold ideas brought to life wherever inspiration strikes.
0:45.1	Thank you. wherever inspiration strikes. What's up, everybody?
0:46.4	I'm Pina Tillman, and this is the NFL players second X podcast.
0:51.0	And with me, as always, is my trusty co-host, Roman Harper.
0:54.8	I got no nicknames for you. Well, I appreciate that. You're being normal, but it's only, you're usually fanboying when this next guest is around. But we're all on our best behavior because we've got family in the room. So I just get through the names. Let's go through it. Go to the resume, which you really doesn't need a lot to explain.
0:52.5	Yeah, Hall of Fame running back NFL. I just get through the names. Let's go through it. Go to the resume, which he really doesn't need a lot to explain.
1:12.2	Yeah.
1:13.1	Hall of Fame running back, NFL MVP, Pro Bowler, All-Pro, Arthur,
1:19.7	humanitarian, ambassador, businessman.
1:22.7	Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Barry Sanders to the pop.
1:28.3	Gentlemen, gentlemen.
1:29.6	I could have said so much more, but I'm just, so I'm happy right now because you were my favorite player as a kid.
1:37.3	I was so, my nickname is Peanut.
1:39.1	I'm a little guy.
	...

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