Pro Football Hall of Fame retracts death statement on Lions legend Lem Barney, apologizes

Pro Football Hall of Famer Lem Barney’s household connected Saturday pushed backmost connected a assertion that the erstwhile Detroit Lions subordinate had died.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame erroneously announced that Barney had died astatine the property of 80. The enactment released different statement, apologizing for the conflicting information.

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Detroit Lions cornerback (20) Lem Barney during the 1975 play against the Atlanta Falcons astatine Fulton County Stadium connected Sept. 28, 2017. (Manny Rubio/USA TODAY Sports)

"Based connected conflicting accusation regarding the reported passing of Lem Barney, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is rescinding the email sent earlier today," officials said, via the New York Post. "The Hall has not been capable to corroborate specified quality independently. Please judge our apology."

Barney’s lad told The Detroit Free Press that his begetter was alive, and his large niece slammed the reports successful a station connected Facebook.

"This is simply a prevarication my Great Uncle is live we dnt cognize who the sick idiosyncratic is down this but we volition find retired !!!!!! Please study this," she wrote connected Facebook.

Lem Barney arrives during the Professional Football HOF enshrinement ceremonies astatine the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium connected Aug. 5, 2017.  (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)

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Barney was a second-round prime of the Lions successful 1967 retired of Jackson State. He played 14 games successful 1967 and led the NFL with 10 interceptions and 3 interceptions returned for a touchdown. He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts.

He was an All-Pro enactment successful his archetypal 3 seasons of the NFL and made 7 Pro Bowls successful his 11 seasons with the Lions.

Barney finished his vocation aft the 1977 season. He had 56 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries successful 140 vocation games.

Former Lions prima Barry Sanders and Lem Barney connected the sidelines connected Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, astatine Ford Field. (Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

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Following his career, helium was named to the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade Team and the Lions’ All Time Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame successful 1992.

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