Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders experienced a heart-related health scare over the weekend, he said in a statement posted to social media Friday.
Sanders did not discuss the exact nature of his symptoms, but said the experience was “unexpected” and a “reminder of the importance of continuing to look after your physical health, even when you’re feeling well.”
In his statement, the Detroit Lions legend also expressed his gratitude to the doctors, nurses and medical workers who treated him.
Sanders, who turns 56 next month, said he was following his doctor’s advice and wanted to “use this opportunity to prioritize my health and well-being.”
“Get well soon Barry,” the Lions wrote on social media.
Sanders played for the Lions from 1989-1998, earning six All-Pro selections before his abrupt retirement at age 31. One of the most exciting players in league history, Sanders ranks fourth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 15,269 yards in just 10 seasons, including a 2,053-yard rushing streak in 1997 when he was named MVP.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Sanders was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft following a Heisman Trophy-winning season at Oklahoma State and spent his entire career with the Lions.
The Lions unveiled a bronze statue of Sanders outside Ford Field last season, the first player in franchise history to receive such an honor.
This report includes information from ESPN’s Eric Woodyard and The Associated Press.
