Lem Barney redefined the cornerback position, turning interceptions into an art form and sparking the Detroit Lions’ defense from the very moment he stepped onto an NFL field.
LEM BARNEY
Football Bio
September 8, 1945 – The great Lem Barney was born. He was a cornerback out of Jackson State University.
The 6-foot, 188-pound defensive back was a three-time all-conference player in the Southwestern Conference during college, but was still relatively unknown when the Detroit Lions drafted him in the second round in the 1967 NFL Draft.
Lem started off his professional career in spectacular style.
In a quote from Barney on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website, the defender described his first play in the NFL as, I dove and intercepted it, and I did a forward shoulder roll, got up, and ran in the end zone, 24 yards.
Lem Barney built an incredible career on breathtaking athleticism and unmatched instincts, cementing his legacy as one of the most electric defensive playmakers in gridiron history.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
- Won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1967 after intercepting 10 passes.
- Selected to 7 Pro Bowls (1967–1969, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976).
- Named a First-team All-Pro twice (1968, 1969).
- Selected to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.
- Recorded 56 career interceptions, returning 7 of them for touchdowns.
- Had his No. 20 jersey officially retired by the Detroit Lions.
- Served as the Lions’ emergency punter and returned punts and kickoffs, scoring 11 career non-offensive touchdowns (7 interceptions, 2 punt returns, 1 kickoff return, 1 fumble recovery).
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