Sanders’ own resume with Detroit remains one of the most storied in franchise history: 15,269 rushing yards and 109 total touchdowns across a 10-season career. He has remained a beloved figure in Detroit sports and has served as a brand ambassador for the Lions since 2017, a role that keeps his influence felt across the franchise.
Stafford, who began his NFL career with the Lions after being chosen first overall in the 2009 draft, was traded to the Rams in the high-profile deal for Jared Goff. He immediately helped Los Angeles reach the Super Bowl in his first season with the club, signaling a fresh era for a quarterback who spent years in Detroit before finding new success in California.
Sanders expressed his continued admiration for Stafford, saying he and many former Lions teammates take satisfaction in Stafford’s accomplishments and wish him well. “There’s a good number of us that still take some satisfaction in the success that he’s had and wish him well,” Sanders said, noting there were plenty of supporters cheering him on when he won the Super Bowl away from Detroit.
Looking ahead, Sanders joked that Stafford could play another decade, praising the quarterback’s durability despite serious injuries in recent years. “I think he has 10 years left in him,” Sanders remarked, highlighting the high level at which Stafford is still performing and the broader fitness and resilience he has shown.
Stafford earned AP NFL MVP honors after a season in which he led the league with 4,707 passing yards and threw a career-high 46 touchdowns. At 37 years old, he became the oldest first-time MVP winner and the third oldest quarterback to receive the award, trailing only Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. He indicated plans to return to the Rams next season and thanked his wife and daughters for their unwavering support as he continues his career.
