After spending the first four years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, former wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Denver Broncos in 2014.
After joining the team, Sanders had a quiet debut with no catches in Denver’s first preseason game. He then sat out their second preseason game while recovering from a quad injury.
In the Broncos’ third preseason game — Sanders’ second game played — he caught five passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns against the Houston Texans. And that was just in the first half (starters were rested after that).
“I remember going in the locker room [at halftime] and I was racing to the bathroom,” Sanders recalled during his retirement press conference Wednesday. “People were like, ‘What the heck is wrong with this dude?’ I remember sitting there crying in the stall and thanking God because I knew that this was a place that he sent me. I knew that I was going to do something special.
“I’ve never told that story, but that’s the God honest truth. I knew that this was where I was supposed to be, and I knew that the city of Denver was where I supposed to be. The people embraced me, and I love them. I know they love me. The love is mutual.”
Sanders certainly was embraced as he quickly became a fan favorite. The receiver caught 404 passes for 5,361 yards and 28 touchdowns in six and a half seasons with the Broncos. Sanders also rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass during his time in Denver.
The speedy receiver was a key member of the offense during the Peyton Manning era, and he helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. Sanders had a great tenure in Denver, and he knew he landed in the perfect place after that preseason game against the Texans.
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