For their annual Thanksgiving Day game, the Detroit Lions have named Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders as an honorary captain.
Sanders, who played his entire career in Detroit from 1989-1998, is remembered for putting on a show every Thanksgiving. In his ten games on turkey day, he ran the ball 210 times for 931 yards and eight touchdowns.
The 51-year-old entertained jokes of a return for Thanksgiving last season, and now has the honor to lead the team into the field for this year’s prime time game.
Being named honorary captain isn’t the only his story for Sanders this Thanksgiving.
The former Lions running back has teamed up with Nike to release limited edition Air Turf Zoom Jet 97’s. The shoes have been designed to resemble the cleats that Sanders famously wore throughout his career as a Lion.
This is a limited-edition shoe with only 2,053 pairs made — mirroring the exact number of rushing yards Sanders had during his iconic 1997 season.
They currently retail for $179 and can be purchased at Ford Field, and will then go on sale for $150 online, starting at game time tomorrow (12:30 PM, EST).
