HBCU legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lem Barney is “alive and well “after it was reported he died, according to his family.
Amid a report circulating that the 80-year-old icon had passed away, his son, Lem Barney III, confirmed to TMZ on Saturday afternoon he is alive and said he spoke with his father earlier today.
He explained that Barney is under the care of “around-the-clock” caretakers, has been given no reason to fear for his health, and even received a recent picture of his dad.
Barney III says he has “no clue” why people believe his father has died and noted that similar false reports surfaced a few months ago, he told the website.
The latest wave of speculation began earlier this week and intensified Saturday, as some outlets cited the Hall of Fame as having confirmed Barney’s death.
Barney first drew NFL attention at Jackson State, where he starred as both a cornerback and a punter.
The Detroit Lions selected him in the second round of the 1967 NFL Draft, and he immediately stood out, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and earning first-team All-Pro honors at cornerback. He spent 11 seasons with the Lions and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
