Star NFL players can sometimes appear invincible on the field.
But they, like the rest of us, are human. This means that they, too, are vulnerable to health difficulties, particularly those that are unexpected.
A retired Detroit Lions legend recently discovered this.
Barry Sanders, a retired running back, posted to X.com, then known as Twitter, to reveal that he experienced some unforeseen health issues during Father’s Day.
“Over Father’s Day weekend, I experienced a health scare related to my heart,” the 55-year-old Sanders said in a statement posted on X. “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. Per my doctors’ recommendation, I am taking this opportunity to prioritize my health and well-being. I appreciate your understanding and continued support.”
Sanders has the fourth-most rushing yards in NFL history, totaling 15,269 yards across his 10-year career, including 2,053 yards in 1997. He scored 99 touchdowns before shocking the NFL by retiring at the early age of 31.
.@Lions @NFL @NFLPA @ProFootballHOF @HeismanTrophy @okstate pic.twitter.com/1fGb790PlK
— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) June 21, 2024
His numbers are outstanding given how brief his career was — he even missed five games due to injury in 1993.
The six-time All-Pro was admitted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Sanders won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State before being selected by the Lions as the third overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft. He spent his whole professional career with Detroit.
Sanders attended the 2024 NFL Draft, which was held in Detroit; there is a statue of him outside Ford Field, where the Lions play.
It’s unclear what afflicted Sanders, but he did note in his statement that it was related to his heart. Hopefully, he’ll fully recover.
The Hall of Famer will turn 56 next month, and his most recent public appearance was last weekend during a fan meet-and-greet in Detroit.
Sanders retired early in part because Lions management was not constructing a strong enough challenger, and he was bored of putting up numbers for a club that had no chance of making the Super Bowl, let alone winning.
Sanders is not the only Lions offensive talent to retire early; wide receiver Calvin Johnson left after only nine seasons with the team. He was just 30 years old at the time.
Since then, Detroit has transformed itself from a laughingstock to a contending team; the Lions were one poor half of play away from the Super Bowl in 2023.
He was fewer than 1,500 yards away from breaking Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record, and it appears that he might have done so with one or two more seasons of play.
Sanders is still possibly the most renowned Lions player of all time, and here’s praying for a speedy recovery.