Football Hall of Fame Apologizes for Wrongly Announcing NFL Star’s Death

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has publicly apologized for wrongly announcing the death of former NFL star Lem Barney.

NFL.com reported on Saturday, November 29, that the Hall of Fame rescinded an email sent earlier that day announcing Barney’s death at age 80. In response to that initial email, the NFL confirmed that it errantly published an obituary for the Detroit Lions cornerback and returns specialist.

Dave Birkett, a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, revealed via X on Saturday that Lem is still alive after speaking with the athlete’s son, Lem Barney III. Lem III told the reporter that he’d most recently seen his dad for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27.

“[Lem III] started getting messages asking about his dad last night [Friday, November 28],” Birkett wrote. “He said he talked to Lem’s nurse today, had her send a selfie, heard his voice in the background. ‘He’s good … He is alive.’”

According to Birkett, this unfortunate incident was particularly upsetting for the Barneys because it was the second time this year that they had to address “false rumors” about Lem’s death.

“[Lem III] said it happened after the flood in Texas earlier this year. ‘It’s like the boy who cried wolf s*** now,’” the journalist wrote via X.

Meanwhile, the Pro Football Hall of Fame explained that its incorrect death announcement was made after consulting with “media sources associated with the Detroit Lions.”

“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 Pro Football Hall of Fame said in a statement. “The Hall has not been able to confirm such news independently. Please accept our apology.”

Lem Sr. played 11 seasons in the NFL, all for the Detroit Lions. He received numerous accolades in his esteemed career, including winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1967 and making the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.

The athlete made it to the Pro Bowl seven times throughout his career and was named as a first-team All-Pro player in 1968 and 1969. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

After retiring from the gridiron, Lem Sr. ventured into the entertainment industry. He was a close friend of late singer Marvin Gaye and even contributed background vocals to his 1971 classic “What’s Going On,” according to ESPN.

The former NFL star played himself — alongside fellow iconic athletes Alex Karras, Sugar Ray Robinson and Frank Gifford — opposite Hollywood stars Alan Alda and Lauren Hutton in the 1968 sports comedy Paper Lion. He also joined fellow football stars “Mean” Joe Greene, Eugene “Mercury” Morris and Willie Lanier in the 1974 blaxploitation film The Black Six.

Lem Sr. later worked as an analyst for BET’s college football coverage and was a pre-game host for his old team, the Detroit Lions, in the 1980s, reported the Detroit Free Press. He reflected on his NFL career and life off the field in the 2006 memoir, The Supernatural: Lem Barney.

Lem Sr. and his late wife, Martha, reportedly tied the knot during the Lions’ off-season in 1967 and later welcomed two children: a daughter, LaTrece Barney, and a son, Lemuel “Lem” Barney III. Following Marth’s death, Lem Sr. married his second wife, Jacqueline Barney.