two legendary NFL players who treat the field as their personal war zone EMT Smith versus Barry Sanders and their never ending Feud has always been a source of amusement for their fans let's get into the most enjoyed rivalry cherished by NFL enthusiasts let's first talk about the incredible EMT Smith he was born in Pensacola Florida and that's where his football Journey began as a young boy he started playing the game and quickly showed his talent he went to Escambia High School where he made a name for himself as one of the best runners in American High School football history his skills on the field were unmatched and he became the second leading rusher in the history of American High School football Smith then chose to forego his senior year of Eligibility and play professionally the Cowboys selected Smith in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft with the 17th overall pick during his long professional career he rushed for 18 355 yards breaking the record formerly held by Walter pyton he also holds the record for career- rushing touchdowns with 164 Smith is the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl championship the NFL Most Valuable Player award the NFL rushing crown and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award all in the same season he is also one of four running backs to lead the NFL in rushing three or more consecutive Seasons Smith is also one of only two non-kickers in NFL history to score more than 1,000 career points Smith was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 now moving on to the heroic Barry Sanders he played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League for 10 seasons Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns once establishing himself as one of the most elusive runners in the history of the NFL with his quickness and Agility despite being only 5 ft8 in tall Sanders played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys as a junior in 1988 he compiled what is widely considered the greatest individual season by a running back in college football history rushing for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games he won the Heisman Trophy and was unanimously recognized as an All-American Sanders was selected by the lions in the 1989 NFL draft and had an immediate impact in his rookie season winning the NFL offensive Rookie of the Year award in 1991 Sanders helped lead the Lions to their first post-season win since 1958 in 1994 Sanders was awarded the NFL offensive player of the year award in 1997 he rushed for 2,53 yards in the regular season and was co- awarded the NFL Most Valuable Player award alongside his second NFL offensive player of the year award while still performing at a high level Sanders unexpectedly retired from professional football in 1999 at the age of 31 and 1,457 yards short of breaking the NFL's then all-time rushing record held by Walter pton in each of his 10 seasons he was selected to a pro bowl and all pro team the Lions retired Sanders number 20 Jersey on November 25th 2004 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 3 months prior a year later Sanders was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame with former college teammate Thurman Thomas in 2007 he was ranked by NFL Network's NFL top 10 series as the most elusive runner in NFL history and was placed number one on the list of the greatest players never to play in a Super Bowl while Barry Sanders and EMT Smith never engaged in a direct onfield rivalry their careers ran in parallel sparking comparisons and debates among fans Smith and Sanders were each legendary in their own right both are among the top three rushers of all time both hold their share of NFL records both have been voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player and both were electrifying Runners both were two incredible football players they were famous for running with the ball like lightning on the field both of them are considered some of the best runners in the history of the game they each have their names etched in NFL history books despite the many similarities between them EMT Smith and Barry Sanders were also very different from each other in various ways EMT Smith played as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys and was known for his durability and longevity in the NFL he holds the NFL record for career rushing yards with 18,3 55 yards he is famous for his vision patience and ability to find running Lanes he had 11 seasons of over 1,000 rushing yards Barry Sanders is renowned for his electrifying playing style and Elusive running ability he retired with 15,69 career rushing yards despite playing fewer Seasons than Smith Sanders spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions earning numerous accolades including MVP in 1997 he was known for his incredible agility Quick Cuts and ability to make Defenders Miss tackles Sanders led the league in rushing four times and retired at his Peak shocking the football world with his early retirement in 1999 off the football field EMT Smith and Barry Sanders share a genuine fondness for each other despite their onfield rivalry they have frequently complimented each other's playing Styles showcasing a deep respect for one another in an interview when EMT Smith was asked about Barry Sanders he had some High Praise to share Smith said Barry Sanders is the greatest running back of all time he was a once in a generation talent and watching him play was truly special by calling Sanders the greatest running back of all time Smith acknowledged Sanders unique abilities and the impact he had on the sport similarly in a talk show when the interviewer asked Barry Sanders about his thoughts on EMT Smith Sanders said he was so amazing at making people miss out of the space he was ridiculous and to me he's the best running back I've ever seen play the game in terms of what his skill set offers that's just my personal opinion Sanders words showed the immense respect he had for Smith's talent and skills he was impressed by Smith's ability to evade Defenders and create opportunities on the field Sanders went on to express his belief that Smith is the greatest running back he's ever witnessed highlighting the unique qualities and abilities that Smith brought to the game one of the most remarkable aspects of the onfield Rivalry between EMT Smith and Barry Sanders is the Deep admiration and respect they had for each other this serves as a powerful lesson for all of us showing that even in the midst of intense competition it's crucial to maintain respect for one another despite facing off against each other on opposite sides of the field Smith and Sanders shared a bond built on Mutual admiration and sportsmanship they recognized and appreciated each other's talents EMT Smith and Barry Sanders didn't just attract fans with their incredible football skills they also won over people's hearts with their exceptional Behavior both on and off the field their fans Not only miss their incredible performances on the field but also miss the excitement of their rivalry and the special bond that developed between them over the years this brings us to the end of our video make sure to subscribe to get more such videos on your feed do comment and let us know what you think about these Legends and also don't forget to tell us who you would like us to cover next thank you for watching we hope to see you again