“2014 was just beautiful. Just playing with Peyton, it’s like toilet paper just dropping in your hands. It was just so easy,” Sanders said.

The 37-year-old had 51 career receiving touchdowns, including 13 from Manning, which was the most from any quarterback. Sanders caught scores from 11 different quarterbacks in the regular season, but Roethlisberger was the only other one to hit him in the end zone more than 10 times, finding him on 11 occasions.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected the SMU product in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft; he played in his first Super Bowl as a rookie and spent four seasons with the organization. ‍ Sanders signed with the Denver Broncos in March 2014 and immediately became one of Manning’s most trusted receivers.

He finished that season with career highs in targets (141), receptions (101), receiving yards (1,404) and touchdowns (nine), ranking only behind the late five-time Pro Bowler Demaryius Thomas in the first three categories.

Sanders had another big year in 2015, finishing tied with Thomas for the team lead in touchdowns (six), and helped the Broncos win their most recent championship in Super Bowl 50. He finished the big game with a contest-high six catches and 83 receiving yards.

Sanders remained in the Mile High City until midway through the 2019 season when he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He made it to his third Super Bowl in 2020 with the Niners, recording three catches for 38 yards in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sanders wrapped his career by spending one season with Brees and the New Orleans Saints and one year with Allen and the Buffalo Bills.