Richard Wayne Sanders (born August 30, 1962) is a former National Football League (NFL) wide receiver who played professionally for 12 seasons from 1983 to 1994, two with the United States Football League (USFL) and ten in the NFL; eight seasons with the Washington Redskins and two with the Atlanta Falcons. He played running back, safety, and place kicker as a three-year letterman for Belton High School in Belton, Texas and broke five records while there. Sanders played college football at Southwest Texas State University as a running back, helping the team win the Division II national championship in 1981 and 1982. He graduated in 1983 with 2,461 rushing yards and 3,126 all-purpose yards. In 2018, he was selected for the school's athletic hall of fame.
Ricky played two seasons in the USFL for the Houston Gamblers and teamed up with Jim Kelly attaining 101 receptions for 1,370 yards and 11 touchdowns. had been drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players. New England traded his rights to the Washington Redskins. The Redskins had two talented receivers in the sure handed Art Monk and tough Gary Clark but felt they needed a legitimate deep threat, leading them to acquire the speedy Sanders. The three were the first trio of wide receivers to each surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and became known as "The Posse." As predicted Ricky proved himself a deep threat by averaging 20.4 yards per catch in the 1986 season. in 1987, Ricky really had a mental connection with soon to be Super Bowl XXII MVP, Doug Williams. Doug loved Ricky's speed and ability to run after the catch and went to him often. This duo was effective, and the Redskins fought their way through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. Ricky was a standout performer in Super Bowl XXII, catching nine passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning three kickoffs for 46 yards. He set Super Bowl records for most receiving yards (193), most total yards (235), most touchdowns in one quarter, most receiving yards in one quarter (168), and longest touchdown reception (80 yards, tie) in Washington's 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos. Shortly after the Super Bowl win, when the Redskins visited the White House, President Ronald Reagan completed a ceremonial pass to Ricky. Slick Rick, as he was called by his teammates, had arguably his best season in 1988, as he finished fifth in the NFL on receiving yards with 1,148 and second in receiving touchdowns with 12, a Redskins record. The following season was also a tremendous one for Ricky as he made 80 grabs for 1,138 yards, making him one of three 1,000-yard receivers on the team along with Art Monk and Gary Clark.  In the 1991 season the Redskins defeated the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions before beating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI; a second Super Bowl Victory for Ricky.   Ricky finished his 10 NFL seasons with 483 receptions for 6,477 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also rushed for 94 yards and one touchdown, returned two punts for 12 yards, and gained 636 yards on 33 kickoff returns showing he was a true ALL PURPOSE NFL PLAYER.