Ricky Sanders Biography

Ricky Wayne Sanders, born August 30, 1962, played professional football as a wide receiver for 12 seasons from 1983 to 1994, including two with the Houston Gamblers in the USFL and 10 in the NFL. He played multiple positions in high school, including running back, safety, and place kicker, and set five school records during his three-year letterwinning career at Belton High School in Texas. Sanders played college football at Texas State University, where he contributed as a running back and helped the team win the Division II national championship in 1981 and 1982. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL players. In his first NFL season, 1986, Sanders made 14 catches and demonstrated deep threat ability with an average of 20.4 yards per reception. His best season came in 1988, when he recorded 1,148 receiving yards, finishing fifth in the NFL, and posted 12 receiving touchdowns, a Redskins record. In 1990, Sanders recorded 56 catches for 727 yards, marking a slight decline from prior seasons.