Detroit Lions legend’s Super Bowl prediction is on the verge of becoming a reality

NFL legend Barry Sanders made the bold prediction in November.

When most football fans were focused on the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs as potential Super Bowl champions in Las Vegas, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history stuck by the only pro team he played for.

“They absolutely have a chance to go and do something special,” Sanders exclusively told talkSPORT, pushing the Lions as serious Super Bowl LVIII contenders in a game set for February 11 at Allegiant Stadium.

Two months later, Detroit is one of only four teams remaining out of the 32 that started the 2023 season dreaming of winning the big game.

“Lions fans are excited,” Sanders said. “We’ve been waiting for this sort of a team for many, many years now. We’ve seen it building the last few seasons but this is exactly what we hoped for.”

With back-to-back postseason wins, the Lions have taken over the city of Detroit like never before.

Sanders’ old crew travels to San Francisco to face the No. 1 seed 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.

Win that one and Detroit will reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

“I think they’ve really just met with all the Lions fans’ expectations about what this team could be,” Sanders said. “Coach (Dan) Campbell does deserves a ton of credit.”

Sanders, 55,  spent 10 thrilling but frustrating seasons starring for Detroit.

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He won a playoff game and reached the NFC Championship in 1991 during a 12-4 season.

But that’s as good as it got for Sanders in Detroit, despite one of the most talented players in NFL history ranking fourth all-time with 15,269 career rushing yards and being a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sanders never had a coach like Campbell or a quarterback like Jared Goff.

Now, the legendary running back has become one of the Lions’ biggest cheerleaders.

If Detroit downs San Francisco and reaches the Super Bowl, Sanders will have been ahead of the curve months ago.

“I think it comes from coach Campbell,” Sanders said. “I think that he’s very serious about the business of football and about his team, come hell or high water, coming out and and giving their best effort.

“Now you got you got a a great roster with great chemistry, a lot of talent all over the field. Guys contributing just great complementary football and so that absolutely comes from coach Campbell and he deserves all the credit.”