Lem Barney is not dead. His family has confirmed that he's "alive and well," according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Rumors of Barney's passing began to pick up steam throughout the week, reaching fever pitch on Saturday. As such, his son, Lem Barney II, has spoken out to confirm his father is still alive.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"OK. Talked to Lem Barney's son. He said Lem is alive," Birkett wrote on X. "He said he saw Lem on Thanksgiving, started getting messages asking about his dad last night. He said he talked to Lem's nurse today, had her send a selfie, and heard his voice in the background. "He's good ... He is alive."
The rumors became so prevalent that the Pro Football Hall of Fame initially released a statement regarding Barney's passing. However, they have since deleted it and issued an apology.
"Based on conflicting information regarding the reported passing of Lem Barney, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is rescinding the email sent earlier today," the statement read. "The Hall has not been able to confirm such news independently. Please accept our apology."
The NFL also posted an obituary for Barney following the Hall of Fame's announcement, which has since been removed. Nevertheless, it's clear that these rumors spiralled out of control.
Barney is currently 80 years old, and despite the rumors, appears to be in reasonable health for his age.
Who Is Lem Barney?
Barney is an 11-season veteran, having played between 1967 and 1977. He spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
During his career, Barney won the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 67, made seven Pro-Bowls and had two First-Team All-Pro selections. His number 20 was retired by the Lions after he retired. On the field, Barney secured a career 56 interceptions worth 1,077 return yards and 11 touchdowns.
Those 1,077 return yards are still a franchise record in Detroit, despite his retirement occurring 48 years ago. With such impressive career numbers, it's no surprise that he's considered a footballing legend, not only in the city of Detroit but by fans across the world.
