DETROIT – On the football field, Barry Sanders was untouchable — one of the most electrifying running backs in NFL history.
But in June 2024, the Detroit Lions legend faced something he couldn’t juke or outrun: a heart attack.
In a candid sit-down interview, Sanders opened up about the health scare that changed his life and the message he hopes men, in particular, will take to heart.
Sanders says the emergency unfolded over Father’s Day weekend while he was on a recruiting trip with his son.
He woke up with a burning sensation in the middle of his chest — something he brushed off at first.
“I was on a recruiting trip with my son. Woke up, had this small burning in the middle of my chest. I just assumed it was heartburn,” Sanders recalled. “I maybe had heartburn maybe one other time in my life, when I was a kid.”
What he didn’t realize at the time was that he was experiencing a heart attack.
Doctors later confirmed the diagnosis after he went to the emergency room.
Even for a Hall of Famer who’s faced some of the most intense moments in professional sports, Sanders says this was unlike anything he’d experienced.
“Oh man, it was completely different,” Sanders said. “You’re dealing with a type of injury and situation that, you know, I mean, it could be life or death.”
From the ER to X-rays and tests, Sanders described those early hours as frightening and uncertain.
Now a heart attack survivor, Sanders is using his platform to push for more awareness about heart disease and the importance of knowing your risk.
He says his own experience is a reminder that even people who look fit and healthy can still be vulnerable.
“Some of it [is] hereditary. That’s another reason you have to really have that conversation with your doc. See where you are,” Sanders said. “Because you could look like the healthiest person in the world and still have heart disease.”
Sanders is urging fans — especially men, who often avoid regular doctor visits — to take symptoms seriously and get checked out.
Asked what he’d say to a man who’s ignoring chest discomfort or other possible warning signs, Sanders didn’t hesitate.
“I would tell him, you know, don’t take it lightly. It may be nothing. But it’s always good to have your doctor confirm whatever,” Sanders said.
Sanders added that conversations about heart health shouldn’t just stay between friends and family.
“The conversation definitely has to include medical professionals, you know, to see specifically where you are,” Sanders said.
Since his heart attack, Sanders says he’s made changes to his lifestyle.
That includes taking new medications and rethinking what exercise looks like for him.
One simple adjustment: walking.
“The fact that walking can be a great exercise. You know, as an athlete, I never thought of walking as an exercise,” Sanders admitted.
Now, he sees it as an accessible way for almost anyone to build heart-healthy habits into their day.
Sanders also has a new perspective on what it means to win.
When asked what winning looks like to him after surviving a heart attack, he said it’s no longer just about accolades or records.
“Oh, winning to me looks like just being informed,” Sanders said. “I love being able to talk to my fans about my career. Hopefully, I can be around for many more years to help more people with this topic.”
Sanders is sharing even more of his story in a new documentary, “The Making of a Heart Attack,” where he walks viewers through his experience in greater detail and highlights the often-hidden risks of heart disease.
By talking openly about his scare and his recovery, the Hall of Famer hopes others will listen to their bodies, talk to their doctors, and take steps now to protect their health.
If you experience symptoms like chest pain, pressure, burning, shortness of breath, or unexplained fatigue, health experts say you should seek medical attention immediately.
Early treatment can save your life.