- Barry Sanders, 55, is recovering from a heart problem last weekend.
- He thanked the ‘incredible doctors and nurses’ who treated him
Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders announced that he experienced a heart-related health issue over the weekend.
The Hall of Fame running back, 55, called the incident “unexpected” and revealed the news in a statement posted on social media.
“Over Father’s Day weekend, I experienced a health issue related to my heart,” Sanders began. ‘It was unexpected and served as a reminder of the importance of remaining mindful of our physical well-being, even when we feel well.
‘I am grateful for the incredible doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for giving me the care I needed. My family and I are grateful for your prayers and support during this time,” he continued.
‘As recommended by my doctors, I am taking this opportunity to prioritize my health and well-being. I appreciate your understanding and continued support.’
Barry Sanders shared with his fans that he suffered a heart-related health issue over the weekend.
The Lions shared Sanders’ statement on their own X account and posted a graphic saying “get well soon, Barry.”
Sanders, considered one of the greatest running backs of all time, spent all 10 seasons of his career with the Lions from 1989 to 1998.
He was a six-time All-Pro and 1997 MVP, having surpassed 1,300 yards in all but one of his seasons.
His 15,269 rushing yards are the fourth-most all-time, trailing only Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Frank Gore.
Barry Sanders played for the Lions from 1989 to 1998 and went on to a Hall of Fame career.
However, Sanders surprised fans when he retired at just 31 years old, after a season in which he posted a monstrous statistic of 1,491 rushing yards.
He explained in the Amazon documentary ‘Bye Bye Barry’ released last year that he no longer had a passion for the game.
“There really was nothing left to play for,” he said via CBS Sports.
“I didn’t see us as any kind of serious Super Bowl contender. … I felt like I was making a pretty clear decision. I felt like, in my mind, this was it.”