Sanders speaks: NFL Hall of Famer speaks on his 1999 disappearance in new documentary
An Amazon Original sports documentary, this feature delves into the life, career and mysteriously sudden disappearance of one Hall of Fame running back — Detroit Lions player Barry Sanders — who shocked stadiums when he suddenly walked away from professional football in 1999: “Bye Bye Barry” premieres Tuesday, Nov. 21, on Prime Video.
“When NFL superstar Barry Sanders vanished at the height of his career, he left the NFL world in shock,” the platform describes. “He was still in his prime, chasing the all-time NFL rushing record when he boarded a flight to England and never stepped foot on the field again. Now, 24 years later, Barry retraces his steps through the streets of London to finally confront the mystery.”
Directed by Paul Monusky (“NFL 100 Greatest”), Micaela Powers (“3 Games to Glory VI,” 2019) and Angela Torma (“NFL Rush”), the documentary features appearances by Eminem (“The Slim Shady LP,” 1999) and Jeff Daniels (“Dumb and Dumber,” 1994), alongside, of course, unprecedented access to Sanders himself.
“Over the last year I have been filming the definitive movie on my life with @Primevideo & @Amazonstudios — The great mystery of why I walked away will be answered once and for all. Stream #Byebyebarry on November
21st,” Sanders posted to X, back in September of this year.
According to an article written in the Detroit News, “[Sanders] retired with 15,269 rushing yards and was primed to top Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record of 16,276 yards before his surprise retirement in 1999.” The article also states that he is now No. 4 on the all-time list, listed just below Frank Gore, and Peyton and Emmitt Smith, reminding readers that the 10-time Pro Bowl honoree, sixtime All-pro and four-time NFL rushing leader was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility.
In fact, Sanders is such a beloved player that an eight-foot bronze statue of him now stands outside of the Ford Field in Detroit.
According to Forbes magazine, the documentary “features Sanders himself retracing his steps through the streets of London where he flew to after suddenly giving up on his sparkling NFL career, finally explaining why he did what he did.”
Produced by USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher (“Man in the Arena”), Ross Ketover (“Inside the NFL”), Ken Rodgers (“Hard Knocks”), NFL Network CEO Brian Rolapp, and many more, “Bye Bye Barry” premieres Tuesday, Nov. 21, on Prime Video.