Image via Complex Original
If you only started watching the NFL in the 21st century, you really missed out. And that's mainly because you weren't able to witness one of the most entertaining running backs in league history: Barry Sanders. Sure, you can watch as many highlight videos as you want, but nothing compared to seeing him in real time. At 5'6" and 200 pounds, Sanders was undersized for the position. However, for what he lacked in size, the product of Oklahoma State University surely made up for in ridiculous quickness and footwork, breaking free from two, three and sometimes even four defenders as they swarmed around him with one juke move after another.
Today, Barry celebrates his birthday and to commemorate the occasion, we have rounded up the best moments where defenders went from thinking they had to their man all wrapped up to ending up with shattered dreams and broken ankles. 46, to be exact. One for each year the Lions running back has been alive. Here are The 46 Greatest Juke Moves in NFL History in GIFs.
46. Grab Your Popcorn (and Life Alert)
Date: 10/30/2005
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ Denver Broncos
Juke by: Terrell Owens
Victim(s): Champ Bailey
Who would've thought that going right to left would be so effective?
45. D-Jack of All Trades
Date: 11/5/2012
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Juke by: DeSean Jackson
Victim(s): Patrick Robinson
This is what happens when you try to play defense in lead shoes.
44. Breaking Ankles Is Old News
Date: 9/3/1995
Game: Detroit Lions @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Juke by: Barry Sanders
Victim(s): Rod Woodson
All the guys on this list can say they broke a defender's ankles, but how many of them besides Barry can say they tore someone's ACL with a juke?
43. Arian Makes It Look So Easy
Date: 9/19/2010
Game: Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins
Juke by: Arian Foster
Victim(s): Reggie Jones
Arian is always just gliding out of trouble, call that a Brittany Norwood.
42. Pinball Wizard
Date: 9/16/2012
Game: Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Juke by: Maurice Jones-Drew
Victim(s): Connor Barwin
When MJD gets to running like a chicken without a head, no one is safe.
41. Rumbling, Stumbling, Juking?
Date: 8/22/2011
Game: Chicago Bears @ New York Giants
Juke by: Brandon Jacobs
Victim(s): Unknown
Dude got badly shaken by Brandon Jacobs. There's no punchline because that's the punchline.
40. Brady Catching Bodies On and Off the Field
Date: 11/26/2006
Game: Chicago Bears @ New England Patriots
Juke by: Tom Brady
Victim(s): Brian Urlacher
When he needs to, Brady can break free of anyone's clutches. Just ask Bridget Moynahan.
39. Roasted Peppers
Date: 8/22/2011
Game: Chicago Bears @ New York Giants
Juke by: Ahmad Bradshaw
Victim(s): Julius Peppers
When Bradshaw isn't nursing his own ankle problems, he's giving other people ankle problems.
38. Dawg, You Didn't Have to Do 'Em Like That
Date: 10/31/2004
Game: Atlanta Falcons @ Denver Broncos
Juke by: Michael Vick
Victim(s): Kelly Herndon
Madden '04 Mike Vick all day.
37. Two Ankles, One Move
Date: N/A
Game: Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles
Juke by: Brian Westbrook
Victim(s): Unknown
Who needs blockers?
36. The Force Was Strong in Young Felix
Date: 9/28/2009
Game: Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys
Juke by: Felix Jones
Victim(s): Charles Godfrey
Charles Godfrey, you should be ashamed.
35. Rookie's Gon' Learn Today
Date: 8/8/2013
Game: Washington Redskins @ Tennessee Titans
Juke By: Chris Johnson
Victim(s): Bacarri Rambo
LMAO. Bacarri Rambo tried to act like we all don't have this playing on a loop.
34. Bess Leaves 'Em HIGH and Dry
Date: 11/3/2013
Game: Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Juke By: Davone Bess
Victim(s): Lardarius Webb
My God, we found a Browns highlight!
33. Not One, Not Two, Not Three, Not Four...
Date: 12/22/2013
Game: Minnesota Vikings @ Cincinnati Bengals
Juke by: Giovani Bernard
Victim(s): Erin Henderson, Letroy Guion, Robert Blanton, Shaun Prater
Y'all let a ROOKIE do this?!
32. Reggie! Reggie!
Date: 1/16/2009
Game: Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints
Juke by: Reggie Bush
Victim(s): Unknown
Reggie Bush was always better in Madden, but this is still sick.
31. Whoop! Whoop!
Date: 9/25/1989
Game: Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Juke By: Eric Metcalf
Victim(s): Eric Thomas, Lewis Billups
What do you do when this happens?
30. AP All Day
Date: 12/2/2007
Game: Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Juke by: Adrian Peterson
Victim(s): Kenoy Kennedy
HE'S NOT HUMAN.
29. Slicker than Oscar Pistorius
Date: 11/18/1996
Game: Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys
Juke By: Emmitt Smith
Victim(s): Wayne Simmons
"Nope. Noap."
28. Close But...
Date: 9/4/1994
Game: Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Juke by: Eric Metcalf
Victim(s): James Francis
It doesn't matter who has the ball, you're not tackling anyone with that type of technique.
27. White Quarterbacks Got Moves, Too
Date: 11/24/2013
Game: Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
Juke by: Scott Tolzien
Victim(s): Letroy Guion
You don't want Scott Tolzien to put you in the spin cycle.
26. Out Here Dancing With Defenders
Date: 12/8/2013
Game: Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots
Juke by: Josh Boyce
Victim(s): Buster Skrine
Did Buster just drop that Nae Nae?
25. LT Lays Down the Law
Date: 10/6/2005
Game: San Diego Chargers @ New York Jets
Juke by: LaDainian Tomlinson
Victim(s): Ty Law
This brought us back.
24. Charles in Charge
Date: 9/30/2012
Game: San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Juke by: Jamaal Charles
Victim(s): Donald Butler, Larry English, Vaughn Martin
Jamaal reversed course harder than A-Rod's legal battles.
23. Superman at Work
Date: 11/18/2013
Game: New England Patriots @ Carolina Panthers
Juke by: Cam Newton
Victim(s): Dont'a Hightower, Rob Ninkovich
Sure, Cam. Break out all your superhuman tricks on one play. Do you want them to know you're a football cyborg created by Jon Gruden to take over the NFL, ESPN and all of sports? PLAY IT COOLER THAN THAT.
22. Reggie Be Here Just Gliiiiiding
Date: 11/4/2012
Game: Miami Dolphins @ Indianapolis Colts
Juke by: Reggie Bush
Victim(s): Robert Mathis
Never forget when Reggie took his talents to South Beach.
21. Oh So Sweet(ness)
Date: N/A
Game: Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
Juke by: Walter Payton
Victim(s): Unknown
Sometimes you just have to sit back and take in the greatness.
20. Rain, Sleet, Snow, It Doesn't Matter
Date: 12/8/2013
Game: Detroit Lions @ Philadelphia Eagles
Juke by: LeSean McCoy
Victim(s): Glover Quin
LeSean just juked someone IN THE SNOW.
19. Football Houdini
Date: 9/28/1986
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders
Juke by: Randall Cunningham
Victim(s): Sean Jones, Jeff Barnes
A little-known fact about Randall Cunningham was his ability to transport wherever he pleased with no regard for time or space.
18. How Not to Tackle 101
Date: N/A
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Juke by: Brian Westbrook
Victim(s): Unknown
So many bodies on the ground.
17. You Mad
Date: 10/20/2013
Game: St. Louis Rams @ Carolina Panthers
Juke by: Steve Smith
Victim(s): Janoris Jenkins
The celebration might be better than the juke.
16. Which Way Did He Go?
Date: 12/29/2013
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
Juke by: LeSean McCoy
Victim(s): DeVonte Holloman
This is not how you're supposed to do the defense.
15. Fool Me Once, Shame on You. Fool Me Twice...
Date: 11/6/2011
Game: Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Juke by: Antonio Brown
Victim(s): Cary Williams
The most violating two yards in NFL history.
14. Madden Moves IRL
Date: 8/15/2013
Game: Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Juke by: LeSean McCoy
Victim(s): Drayton Florence, Thomas Davis
It's been scientifically proven that LeSean McCoy runs with a forcefield surrounding him at all times.
13. Forte Causes a Meeting of the Minds
Date: 10/23/2011
Game: Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Juke by: Matt Forte
Victim(s): Frank Okam
This man just about knocked two Bucs unconscious with one juke.
12. Percy Giving Defenders Migraines
Date: 10/12/2012
Game: Tennessee Titans @ Minnesota Vikings
Juke by: Percy Harvin
Victim(s): Jordan Babineaux, Colin McCarthy
Percy just collected ALL of the broken ankles.
11. It's Just Not Fair
Date: 9/15/2002
Game: Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Juke by: Charlie Garner
Victim(s): Clark Haggans, Dewayne Washington
You can't even do this in Madden!
10. Bout them Juke Moves, Boss
Date: 11/13/2011
Game: Baltimore Ravens @ Seattle Seahawks
Juke by: Marshawn Lynch
Victim(s): Jarrett Johnson, Ray Lewis
R.I.P Ray Lewis.
9. Not Faulking Around
Date: 10/24/1999
Game: Cleveland Browns @ St. Louis Rams
Juke by: Marshall Faulk
Victim(s): John Thierry, Antonio Langham
Faulk was the GOAT.
8. Chad Pennington Catches a Body
Date: 11/24/2002
Game: Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets
Juke by: Chad Pennington
Victim(s): Eddie Robinson
BRUH. We would've retired.
7. Slipping and Falling and they Can't Get Up
Date: N/A
Game: Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints
Juke by: Walter Payton
Victim(s): Unknown
They don't call him Sweetness for nothing, folks!
6. Almost...Almost...
Date: 1/22/1984
Game: Oakland Raiders @ Washington Redskins
Juke by: Marcus Allen
Victim(s): Ken Coffey
Playing the field FTW.
5. Jets Get Left in Cruz Control
Date: 12/24/2011
Game: New York Giants @ New York Jets
Juke By: Victor Cruz
Victim(s): Antonio Cromartie
Leave it to the Jets to allow a 99-yard touchdown on 3rd and long.
4. Ole!
Date: 9/5/2013
Game: Baltimore Ravens @ Denver Broncos
Juke by: Demaryius Thomas
Victim(s): Jimmy Smith
Smith was hellbent on catching a body on this play. Too bad it was his own teammate.
3. That Ain't Right
Date: 11/12/2013
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ Green Bay Packers
Juke by: LeSean McCoy
Victim(s): Casey Hayward
Shady just doesn't play by the same set of rules.
2. Dante's Got Moves On Top of Moves
Date: 12/15/2002
Game: Kansas City Chiefts @ Denver Broncos
Juke by: Dante Hall
Victim(s): Deltha O'Neal, Al Wilson
Back in the day, Dante Hall was such a problem on the returns.
1. Classic Barry
Date: N/A
Game: Detroit Lions @ Indianapolis Colts
Juke By: Barry Sanders
Victim(s): Unknown
This brought out the Rodney Peete "Mom made pizza rolls" reaction. Sidebar: It's probably for the best that these players who got embarrassed by Sanders remain nameless, no?