Orban Eugene "Spec" Sanders was an American football running back, quarterback, and punter in the All-America Football Conference and a defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Yanks.
24 Facts About Spec Sanders
1.
2.
Spec Sanders was a Pro Bowler in 1950, his final season, when he led the NFL with a then-record-tying 13 interceptions.
3.
Spec Sanders still had two years of high school remaining, but at the time he was allowed to take high school courses at Cameron and play four years for the school.
4.
In 1940, Sanders saw little playing time as he was injured.
5.
Spec Sanders had been the sixth overall pick of the 1942 NFL Draft, but he had instead elected to serve in World War II.
6.
Spec Sanders served in the United States Navy for two years before playing football for North Carolina Pre-Flight.
7.
Spec Sanders would serve in a variety of positions for the New York Yankees, such as tailback, defensive back, and punter while starting nine of 13 games.
8.
Spec Sanders ran 140 times for 709 yards for six touchdowns, all of which were league highs.
9.
Spec Sanders caught 17 passes for 259 yards for three touchdowns.
10.
Spec Sanders made 33 punts for 1,208 yards while recording two interceptions on defense, one of which he returned 50 yards for a touchdown.
11.
Spec Sanders returned two kicks for 52 yards while making a 45-yard punt.
12.
Spec Sanders ran 24 times for 250 yards - despite being pulled from the game in the third quarter, a pro record that would not be touched until OJ.
13.
Spec Sanders ran the ball 12 times for 40 yards while throwing 7-of-17 for 89 yards and one interception and returning a kick 32 yards.
14.
Spec Sanders played in nine starts while making appearances in four others, and he ran 169 times for 759 yards with nine touchdowns.
15.
Spec Sanders went 78-of-168 for 918 yards with 5 touchdowns to 11 interceptions while punting 42 times for 1,707 yards.
16.
Spec Sanders recorded one interception on defense while returning the ball for 345 total yards on 18 returns.
17.
Spec Sanders suffered from knee woes and retired after the 1948 season.
18.
Spec Sanders was lured out of retirement to play in the NFL in 1950.
19.
Spec Sanders responded by being named to the Pro Bowl and tying the NFL's all-time single season interception record with 13, which had been done by Dan Sandifer in 1948 with 13.
20.
At that point, Spec Sanders decided to retire for good.
21.
Spec Sanders retired while ranked eleventh all-time in punting yards and ninth in punts while seventh in all-purpose yards.
22.
Spec Sanders had a total of 5,376 all-purpose yards while having 2,829 passing yards in his career.
23.
In total, Spec Sanders had scored 63 total touchdowns: 33 rushing, 23 passing, 3 receiving, two on kick return, one on a punt return, and one interception return for a touchdown.
24.
Spec Sanders moved back to Oklahoma and worked as a small town businessman.