Saquon Barkley selects the greatest running back of all time, and it’s neither Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, or Walter Payton.

In a world filled with debates over the greatest running back of all time, one name consistently rises to the top—Emmitt Smith. With his record-breaking career and countless accolades, it’s no surprise that Smith is often regarded as the GOAT. However, in a surprising twist, Saquon Barkley, one of the NFL’s most dynamic and talented running backs, recently made his own pick for the greatest player at his position, and it’s not the usual suspects like Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, or Walter Payton.

Instead, Barkley selected a running back whose career may not have reached the same statistical milestones as Smith or Payton, but whose unique skill set and impact on the game left an indelible mark on football history. This choice has sparked conversations, re-igniting the debate over what truly defines the “greatest” running back of all time. To understand Barkley’s selection, we need to delve into the reasoning behind his pick and explore the legacy of the player he chose: Barry Sanders.

Saquon Barkley’s Running Style and His Admiration for Barry Sanders

Barkley’s admiration for Barry Sanders is no accident. Both players share an uncanny ability to make defenders miss in open space, an essential trait that defines a great running back. While Barkley has carved out his own niche in the modern NFL, Sanders was the pioneer of many of the moves and agility that Barkley himself displays on the field.

For Barkley, the comparison to Sanders is an easy one. Both players possess a rare combination of power, agility, and vision. Sanders, known for his electrifying open-field moves and ability to avoid tacklers with sharp cuts and quick direction changes, was a human highlight reel. His ability to create plays out of seemingly impossible situations is something that modern fans, like Barkley, can’t help but admire.

“There’s nobody like Barry,” Barkley said in a recent interview. “When you watch him, it’s like he was playing a different game. His ability to make people miss—just the way he could stop and start on a dime—it’s unmatched. He was the original. I look at the game differently because of him.”

Barkley’s words highlight a key reason for his admiration. Sanders was a player who redefined what a running back could be. He wasn’t just a bruising back who churned out yards between the tackles. Sanders’ ability to create magic in the open field, often avoiding tackles that seemed unavoidable, set him apart. For a running back like Barkley, whose career has been built on similar principles of agility and making defenders miss, Sanders represents the pinnacle of what is possible.

Barry Sanders’ Career: A Legacy Defined by Elusiveness

To fully understand why Barkley views Barry Sanders as the greatest of all time, it’s important to look at Sanders’ career. Although his time in the NFL was relatively short, his impact was profound. Sanders played just 10 seasons, all of which were spent with the Detroit Lions. Despite the lack of postseason success for the Lions, Sanders’ individual brilliance was undeniable.

Sanders retired abruptly after the 1998 season, leaving fans and analysts to speculate what could have been had he continued playing. Nonetheless, his legacy was cemented long before his early retirement. In his 10 seasons, Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards—currently fourth on the all-time rushing list—and scored 99 touchdowns. What sets Sanders apart, however, is his ability to gain yardage despite playing for a franchise that was often mired in mediocrity.

In an era where the running back position was dominated by big, bruising backs like Emmitt Smith, who thrived in strong systems with great offensive lines, Sanders’ performance was particularly impressive. The Lions offensive line during Sanders’ tenure was not particularly strong, yet Sanders continually put up incredible numbers, often making defenders miss behind the line of scrimmage.

His elusive running style—characterized by sudden, explosive cuts, an innate ability to evade tacklers, and an uncanny sense of vision—made him a terror on the field. Sanders never needed the luxury of a dominant offensive line or the protection of a star-studded cast of teammates. His ability to turn a negative play into a positive one was unmatched. He didn’t need a huge hole to run through; he created his own space.

The Debate: Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, and Walter Payton

While Saquon Barkley’s pick of Barry Sanders has turned heads, it’s important to acknowledge the other players frequently brought up in conversations about the greatest running back of all time. Each of these players has an argument, but they also have defining characteristics that differentiate them from Sanders—and from each other.

Emmitt Smith, with his all-time rushing yards record (18,355), is often cited as the greatest running back. Smith was a consistent, durable back who thrived in an era dominated by power football. His ability to rack up yards in a balanced Dallas Cowboys offense, with one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, made him a fixture of success. His longevity and ability to perform in clutch situations are unparalleled.

However, the argument against Smith in this debate is that his greatness was built upon a system that maximized his strengths. While he was undoubtedly a great back, he did not have the same explosive qualities or jaw-dropping highlights as Sanders. Smith’s style was one of steady, methodical efficiency rather than electrifying, unpredictable plays.

Jim Brown, on the other hand, was a force of nature during his time in the NFL. Brown’s combination of size, speed, and power was unmatched in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a true pioneer for the running back position, dominating defenses with his physicality. Brown retired early, at the height of his career, and his dominance on the field was so complete that his legacy remains intact despite only playing nine seasons.

While Brown’s physical prowess and dominance cannot be denied, his playing style was quite different from Sanders’. Brown was known for running through defenders rather than evading them. His style was built on power, whereas Sanders’ was based on finesse. Brown’s career statistics—12,312 rushing yards—are certainly impressive for his era, but they fall short when compared to the statistical output of players like Smith and Sanders, who played in more pass-heavy, modern offenses.

Walter Payton, also known as “Sweetness,” was the complete package: a back who could run, catch, and block. Payton’s versatility and ability to excel in all phases of the game made him an iconic figure in NFL history. Payton’s 16,726 rushing yards still place him second on the all-time list. He was a fierce competitor and one of the most beloved figures in football history.

However, Payton’s style was often more physical than Sanders’. While Payton could shake defenders with his moves, he also had the strength to run over them. His ability to dominate both inside and outside the tackles made him a well-rounded player, but much of his career was spent in a Chicago Bears offense that was built around a strong defense and a ground-and-pound running game, rather than the explosive, high-flying offenses that Sanders played in.

Barkley’s Vision for the Position

In many ways, Saquon Barkley’s pick of Barry Sanders also speaks to his own vision for the future of the running back position. Barkley has often been compared to Sanders due to his ability to make defenders miss in open space, and he clearly sees Sanders as the model for what a running back can achieve with an elusive, dynamic skill set.

Barkley’s early years in the NFL have showcased a blend of power, agility, and vision that has earned him comparisons to the best in the game. While injuries have hampered his ability to fully realize his potential, Barkley’s flashes of brilliance—especially his ability to make defenders miss in the open field—have drawn inevitable comparisons to Sanders’ electrifying style.

By selecting Sanders as his choice for the greatest running back of all time, Barkley is signaling that he values not just raw numbers or accolades but also the ability to captivate fans and create unforgettable moments on the field. Sanders’ career may not have the same longevity or championship success as Smith’s, but it was built on a transcendent ability that changed the game. In Barkley’s eyes, that’s what truly makes a running back great.

In the end, Saquon Barkley’s selection of Barry Sanders as the greatest running back of all time may seem surprising to some, but it makes perfect sense given Barkley’s own style of play and his appreciation for the artistry that Sanders brought to the field. While players like Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, and Walter Payton all have legitimate claims to the title of greatest running back, it’s clear that for Barkley, Sanders’ ability to create magic in the open field—and the way he redefined the running back position—is what sets him apart from the rest.

Barkley’s choice serves as a reminder that greatness isn’t always about the numbers or the championships. Sometimes, it’s about the ability to change the game, to defy expectations, and to leave fans in awe with every move. For Barkley, that player is Barry Sanders.