A Thanksgiving tradition will continue tomorrow as the Detroit Lions host the Chicago Bears for the first of three holiday games. Rather than let the occasion slip by without a special release, Nike is paying homage to legendary running back Barry Sanders.
Using the Air Zoom Turf Jet 97—a follow-up to 1996's Zoom Turf, also made famous by Sanders—as its base, this commemorative model takes on a Lions-themed colorway with several details referencing his unparalleled career. Perhaps the most significant is the total number of pairs produced, 2,053, which was Sanders' career-high rushing yard record during the 1997 season. Further details include official Lions branding and Sanders' number 20 on the left shoe strap.
With Sanders filling in as the Lions' honorary team captain for tomorrow's game, he's expected to wear the pair on field.
250 pairs of the Air Zoom Turf Jet 97 "Barry Sanders" will be released today via the Lions team store with the remaining pairs hitting nike.com at 12:30 p.m. ET.
