(CBS DETROIT) – Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders revealed Friday that he experienced a “health scare related to my heart” over Father’s Day weekend.
“It was unexpected and reminded us how important it is to remain vigilant about our physical well-being, even when we are feeling well,” Sanders said on X (formerly Twitter).
The 55-year-old said he will prioritize his health and well-being as recommended by his doctors.
The Lions responded to the announcement on social mediasaying, “Things will get better soon, Barry.”
Sanders was selected third overall by the Lions in the 1989 NFL Draft, where he played for ten seasons before retiring in 1999. 2023 documentary called “Bye Bye Barry” follows Sanders’ decision to retire despite being on the verge of becoming the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.
The former running back finished with 15,269 rushing yards and 109 touchdowns. He was just 1,457 yards from passing Walter Payton to become the NFL’s rushing king, a mark that Emmitt Smith finally broke three years later.
Before joining the Lions, he was recruited by Oklahoma State University and won the Heisman Trophy in 1988.
In 2023, the Lions honored Sanders with an 8-foot statue outside Ford Field. He also appeared at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, where he helped announce the team’s second-round pick, Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
