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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Longtime Lions stalwart Charlie Sanders dies at age 68

Associated Press

DETROIT – Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders epitomized Detroit’s blue-collar roots.

Fans adored his gritty work ethic. Teammates embraced his leadership. Coaches found him to be a prized pupil and a talented teacher. And when Detroit’s booming economy became the American standard, Sanders was rewriting football history with a trend-setting career.

On Thursday, the man who spent 43 years in the Lions’ organization as a player, broadcaster and scout died in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak after battling cancer. He was 68. Lions spokesman Matt Barnhart said the team confirmed Sanders’ death through family members.

“Today we lost one of the greatest Detroit Lions of all time,” team president Tom Lewand said in a statement. “He was a perfect ambassador for our organization and, more important, was a true friend, colleague and mentor to so many of us.”

Sanders landed in Detroit as a third-round draft pick out of Minnesota in 1968 and basically never left.

Sanders went to seven Pro Bowls and finished his playing career in 1977 with a franchise-record 336 receptions, 4,137 yards and 31 touchdowns – good enough numbers to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

“Charlie was a special person to the entire Lions family,” Lewand said.