Sanders recalls crying in bathroom during preseason game

Emmanuel Sanders Jamie Germano / USA TODAY NETWORK

Retiring Emmanuel Sanders recalls crying in bathroom stall at halftime of Broncos preseason game

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 9/7/22

Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders announced that he was retiring from the NFL as a member of the Denver Broncos on Wednesday morning. Sanders spent five-plus of his 12 seasons in the league with the Broncos from 2014 to 2019, earning both of his Pro Bowl honors and winning his only Super Bowl ring as well.

1️⃣2️⃣ seasons
2️⃣ Pro Bowls
Super Bowl 50 Champion

Congrats on your retirement as a Bronco, @ESanders_10!#ThankYouE ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/1VpwK1gIP3
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 7, 2022

After being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft and playing four years with the AFC North club, the SMU product signed with Denver in March 2014. During his retirement press conference on Wednesday, Sanders reflected on an early memory from his days in the "Mile High City."

This is a great story. Sanders said that at halftime of his first preseason game with the Broncos, having already caught two touchdown passes and tallying about 100 yards, he went into a bathroom stall and cried, thanking God because he knew he had come to the right place. https://t.co/xPOzVAJTPM
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) September 7, 2022

The 35-year-old was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in October 2019, where he helped the team earn a trip to Super Bowl LIV. The Niners ultimately fell to the Kansas City Chiefs. Sanders played with the New Orleans Saints in 2020 and the Buffalo Bills in 2021.

He wraps up his career with 704 receptions for 9,245 yards and 51 touchdowns across 172 regular-season games and 52 catches for 622 yards and one touchdown in 15 playoff contests.

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