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Charlie Sanders through the years
Today we mourn the loss of Detroit Lions Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders. Take a look back at the great career of this NFL legend.
![Charlie Sanders of Detroit Lions in 1977. (Associated Press)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/de9buwc4k1sj2a3gzmcn.jpg)
Charlie Sanders of Detroit Lions in 1977. (Associated Press)
![Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders (88) makes a catch in a game against the Green Bay Packers, undated image. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/dy9qoppka9z12tjwsqys.jpg)
Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders (88) makes a catch in a game against the Green Bay Packers, undated image. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)
![Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders (88) in a game against the Cleveland Browns, undated image. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/fwckoaftaye5k4xnb0en.jpg)
Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders (88) in a game against the Cleveland Browns, undated image. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)
![Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders is shown on July 19, 1973. (Associated Press)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/q1zbpqpexdnvtbcfrjgv.jpg)
Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders is shown on July 19, 1973. (Associated Press)
![Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders in 1973. (National Football League)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/lf6fntuvqrvcsbiapd2p.jpg)
Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders in 1973. (National Football League)
![Detroit Lions' Bill Munson (19) passes to Charlie Sanders (88) during a preseason matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Aug. 9, 1969. (Rich Clarkson/Rich Clarkson Associates via AP Images)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/wan9abetx16g6pexdxfe.jpg)
Detroit Lions' Bill Munson (19) passes to Charlie Sanders (88) during a preseason matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Aug. 9, 1969. (Rich Clarkson/Rich Clarkson Associates via AP Images)
![Detroit's Charlie Sanders flips as he grabbed a goal-line pass to tie the game at 14-14 on Nov 26, 1970 in Detroit. George Atkinson, 43, of the Oakland Raiders could only watch. (Associated Press)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/lgszlwqtnao5hc62goom.jpg)
Detroit's Charlie Sanders flips as he grabbed a goal-line pass to tie the game at 14-14 on Nov 26, 1970 in Detroit. George Atkinson, 43, of the Oakland Raiders could only watch. (Associated Press)
![Detroit Lions' Bill Munson (19) hands off to Charlie Sanders (88) during a preseason matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Aug. 9, 1969. (Rich Clarkson/Rich Clarkson Associates via AP Images)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/cp3vnkoozivgwvnzcyoc.jpg)
Detroit Lions' Bill Munson (19) hands off to Charlie Sanders (88) during a preseason matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Aug. 9, 1969. (Rich Clarkson/Rich Clarkson Associates via AP Images)
![Detriot Lions tight end Charlie Sanders at training camp circa 1974. (National Football League)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ck2cdulg3shhqdhxj2sq.jpg)
Detriot Lions tight end Charlie Sanders at training camp circa 1974. (National Football League)
![Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders in 1973. (National Football League)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/evw1hykkd5dxk04zxrmq.jpg)
Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders in 1973. (National Football League)
![Detroit Lions greats from left, Lem Barney, Yale Lary, Charlie Sanders and Joe Schmidt are seen during halftime of an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/nh5itgfhrej60masw2u6.jpg)
Detroit Lions greats from left, Lem Barney, Yale Lary, Charlie Sanders and Joe Schmidt are seen during halftime of an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
![Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders in 1975. Sanders is a 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. (National Football League)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/fhwmutdmpehmxqwfw6gm.jpg)
Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders in 1975. Sanders is a 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. (National Football League)
![Detroit Lions' assistant director of pro personnel Charlie Sanders, right, hugs former Detroit running back Barry Sanders before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/l4j9vqxthtax0txa1wau.jpg)
Detroit Lions' assistant director of pro personnel Charlie Sanders, right, hugs former Detroit running back Barry Sanders before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
![Former Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders reveals his bust along with Lions owner William Clay Ford, Sr. during the Class of 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 4, 2007 in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ehh5l6a4io4fv7ghs58m.jpg)
Former Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders reveals his bust along with Lions owner William Clay Ford, Sr. during the Class of 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 4, 2007 in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
![Five of six members of the class of 2007 of the National Football League Hall of Fame pose at Ihilani Resort in Kapolei, Hawaii, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007. From left are Roger Wehrli of the St. Louis Cardinals, Michael Irvin of the Dallas Cowboys, Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills, Charlie Sanders of the Detroit Lions, and Bruce Matthews of the Houston Oilers-Tennessee Oilers and Titans. Unable to attend was Gene Hickerson of the Cleveland Browns. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/pkjj0af3abumdvhjisna.jpg)
Five of six members of the class of 2007 of the National Football League Hall of Fame pose at Ihilani Resort in Kapolei, Hawaii, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007. From left are Roger Wehrli of the St. Louis Cardinals, Michael Irvin of the Dallas Cowboys, Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills, Charlie Sanders of the Detroit Lions, and Bruce Matthews of the Houston Oilers-Tennessee Oilers and Titans. Unable to attend was Gene Hickerson of the Cleveland Browns. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
![The Class of 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees including (L-R) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, Houston Oilers guard/tackle/center Bruce Matthews, Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders, Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas, and St. Louis Cardinals cornerback Roger Wehrli appear with Miss Hawaii at the 2007 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 10, 2007 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)](https://res.cloudinary.com/nflleague/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/k5xhmfwwsxktyaytigwc.jpg)
The Class of 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees including (L-R) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, Houston Oilers guard/tackle/center Bruce Matthews, Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders, Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas, and St. Louis Cardinals cornerback Roger Wehrli appear with Miss Hawaii at the 2007 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 10, 2007 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)