Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Barry Sanders suffers ‘health scare.’ What do we know?
Details continue to emerge, but what’s been confirmed is that the legendary Lions running back had a heart-related problem over the Father’s Day weekend.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, Barry Sanders has continued to be loved in Detroit and beyond. Sanders’ decision to call time on his career at the moment he did is debated to this day.
Barry Sanders shares details about his ‘health scare’
This week, Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Barry Sanders opened up about the fact that he experienced a “health scare” during Father’s Day weekend. It is understood that the issue was related to his heart. Sanders didn’t give any further details as to what happened or what his present condition is, but he did give an update via a post on social media.
“Taking this opportunity to prioritize my health and well-being,” Sanders wrote in his post. “It was unexpected and served as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant about our physical well-being, even when we are feeling fine. “I am grateful for the amazing doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals for providing me with needed care. My family and I are thankful for your prayers and support during this time.”
Sanders’ last major public appearance was at the 2024 NFL Draft which was staged in Detroit. The 55-year-old who currently serves as an ambassador for the Lions is among the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL. A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Sanders is the first player to register 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 seasons. Indeed, that 10-year span (1989-98) was the entirety of his career which saw him win four rushing titles. Incredibly, his productivity didn’t decrease with age, evidenced by the fact that he became the third player in history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season in 1997 - the year before he walked away from the game.
It was a decision that shocked the NFL and beyond as Sanders did so at a moment when he was within 1,457 rushing yards of the legendary Walter Payton’s career rushing mark of 16,726 yards. Former Dallas Cowboys star running back, Emmit Smith - the man who eventually broke Payton’s record - has since stated that he believes Sanders would have broken the record had he not retired. In November last year, Amazon Prime released a documentary on Sanders in which he details his career and his surprising decision to retire at that moment, a decision his father said “took guts.”