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Lem Barney

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Lem Barney

Lemuel Jackson Barney (born September 8, 1945) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1967 to 1977, playing occasionally as a punter as well. He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers from 1964 to 1966. He was selected by the Lions in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1967, played in seven Pro Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-Pro player in 1968 and 1969. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He has also been inducted into the Detroit Lions Hall of Fame, the Jackson State Sports Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Infobox

Positions
Cornerback Return specialist
Born
(1945-09-08) September 8, 1945 (age 80)Gulfport, Mississippi, U.S.
Height
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight
188 lb (85 kg)
High school
33rd Avenue (Gulfport)
College
Jackson State (1964–1966)
NFL draft
1967: 2nd round, 34th overall pick
Interceptions
56
Interception yards
1,077
Fumble recoveries
17
Defensive touchdowns
8
Return yards
2,586
Return touchdowns
3

Tables

· NFL career statistics
Bold
Bold
Legend
Bold
Legend
Career high
Legend
NFL record
Led the league
Bold
Career high
· NFL career statistics › Regular season
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Int
Games
Yds
Interceptions
Avg
Interceptions
Lng
Interceptions
TD
Interceptions
Fum
Interceptions
FR
Fumbles
Yds
Fumbles
Avg
Fumbles
TD
Fumbles
Ret
Fumbles
Yds
Returning
Avg
Returning
Lng
Returning
TD
1967
1967
Year
1967
Team
DET
Games
14
Games
14
Interceptions
10
Interceptions
232
Interceptions
23.2
Interceptions
71
Interceptions
3
Fumbles
2
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
-5
Fumbles
-5.0
Fumbles
0
Returning
9
Returning
101
Returning
11.2
Returning
25
Returning
0
1968
1968
Year
1968
Team
DET
Games
14
Games
14
Interceptions
7
Interceptions
82
Interceptions
11.7
Interceptions
62
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
5
Fumbles
5
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0.0
Fumbles
0
Returning
38
Returning
749
Returning
19.7
Returning
98
Returning
1
1969
1969
Year
1969
Team
DET
Games
13
Games
13
Interceptions
8
Interceptions
126
Interceptions
15.8
Interceptions
32
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
3
Fumbles
2
Fumbles
25
Fumbles
12.5
Fumbles
0
Returning
16
Returning
345
Returning
21.6
Returning
74
Returning
1
1970
1970
Year
1970
Team
DET
Games
13
Games
13
Interceptions
7
Interceptions
168
Interceptions
24.0
Interceptions
49
Interceptions
2
Fumbles
2
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
—
Fumbles
0
Returning
27
Returning
355
Returning
13.1
Returning
74
Returning
1
1971
1971
Year
1971
Team
DET
Games
9
Games
7
Interceptions
3
Interceptions
78
Interceptions
26.0
Interceptions
28
Interceptions
1
Fumbles
5
Fumbles
2
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0.0
Fumbles
0
Returning
23
Returning
344
Returning
15.0
Returning
48
Returning
0
1972
1972
Year
1972
Team
DET
Games
14
Games
14
Interceptions
3
Interceptions
88
Interceptions
29.3
Interceptions
64
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
1
Fumbles
1
Fumbles
20
Fumbles
20.0
Fumbles
0
Returning
16
Returning
125
Returning
7.8
Returning
26
Returning
0
1973
1973
Year
1973
Team
DET
Games
14
Games
14
Interceptions
4
Interceptions
130
Interceptions
32.5
Interceptions
38
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
3
Fumbles
3
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0.0
Fumbles
0
Returning
28
Returning
259
Returning
9.3
Returning
42
Returning
0
1974
1974
Year
1974
Team
DET
Games
13
Games
12
Interceptions
4
Interceptions
61
Interceptions
15.3
Interceptions
39
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
—
Fumbles
0
Returning
5
Returning
37
Returning
7.4
Returning
11
Returning
0
1975
1975
Year
1975
Team
DET
Games
10
Games
10
Interceptions
5
Interceptions
23
Interceptions
4.6
Interceptions
13
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
1
Fumbles
74
Fumbles
74.0
Fumbles
0
Returning
8
Returning
80
Returning
10.0
Returning
30
Returning
0
1976
1976
Year
1976
Team
DET
Games
14
Games
14
Interceptions
2
Interceptions
62
Interceptions
31.0
Interceptions
26
Interceptions
1
Fumbles
4
Fumbles
1
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
0.0
Fumbles
0
Returning
23
Returning
191
Returning
8.3
Returning
30
Returning
0
1977
1977
Year
1977
Team
DET
Games
12
Games
11
Interceptions
3
Interceptions
27
Interceptions
9.0
Interceptions
22
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
2
Fumbles
49
Fumbles
24.5
Fumbles
0
Returning
0
Returning
0
Returning
—
Returning
0
Returning
0
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
140
Games
136
Games
56
Interceptions
1,077
Interceptions
19.2
Interceptions
71
Interceptions
7
Interceptions
25
Fumbles
17
Fumbles
163
Fumbles
9.6
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
193
Returning
2,586
Returning
13.4
Returning
98
Returning
3
Year
Team
Games
Interceptions
Fumbles
Returning
GP
GS
Int
Yds
Avg
Lng
TD
Fum
FR
Yds
Avg
TD
Ret
Yds
Avg
Lng
TD
1967
DET
14
14
10
232
23.2
71
3
2
0
-5
-5.0
0
9
101
11.2
25
0
1968
DET
14
14
7
82
11.7
62
0
5
5
0
0.0
0
38
749
19.7
98
1
1969
DET
13
13
8
126
15.8
32
0
3
2
25
12.5
0
16
345
21.6
74
1
1970
DET
13
13
7
168
24.0
49
2
2
0
0
—
0
27
355
13.1
74
1
1971
DET
9
7
3
78
26.0
28
1
5
2
0
0.0
0
23
344
15.0
48
0
1972
DET
14
14
3
88
29.3
64
0
1
1
20
20.0
0
16
125
7.8
26
0
1973
DET
14
14
4
130
32.5
38
0
3
3
0
0.0
0
28
259
9.3
42
0
1974
DET
13
12
4
61
15.3
39
0
0
0
0
—
0
5
37
7.4
11
0
1975
DET
10
10
5
23
4.6
13
0
0
1
74
74.0
0
8
80
10.0
30
0
1976
DET
14
14
2
62
31.0
26
1
4
1
0
0.0
0
23
191
8.3
30
0
1977
DET
12
11
3
27
9.0
22
0
0
2
49
24.5
0
0
0
—
0
0
Career
140
136
56
1,077
19.2
71
7
25
17
163
9.6
0
193
2,586
13.4
98
3
· NFL career statistics › Postseason
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Ret
Games
Yds
Punt returns
Avg
Punt returns
Lng
Punt returns
TD
1970
1970
Year
1970
Team
DET
Games
1
Games
1
Punt returns
5
Punt returns
20
Punt returns
4.0
Punt returns
8
Punt returns
0
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
1
Games
1
Games
5
Punt returns
20
Punt returns
4.0
Punt returns
8
Punt returns
0
Year
Team
Games
Punt returns
GP
GS
Ret
Yds
Avg
Lng
TD
1970
DET
1
1
5
20
4.0
8
0
Career
1
1
5
20
4.0
8
0

References

  1. With Ronnie Lott and Janoris Jenkins
  2. Most interceptions returned for touchdown in a rookie season
  3. Only leader in punt return touchdowns
  4. Detroit Lions
    https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/football/yearbooks/FDETLMG-1975-detroit-lions-media-guide.pdf
  5. Pro-Football-Reference.com
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnLe00.htm
  6. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4375910/lions_celebrate_lem_barney_day/
  7. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4375393/lem_out_to_corner_lion_sized_job/
  8. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4375569/lions_up_170/
  9. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4376254/barney_a_star_from_the_start/
  10. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4375624/a_cheer_for_lions/
  11. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4375664/barney_farr_are_lion_stars/
  12. The Express (PA)
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4351989/detroit_lions_mel_farr_lem_barney_are/
  13. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4375703/west_rallies_in_pro_bowl/
  14. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4378508/my_voice_on_wiretap_barney_says/
  15. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4378585/barney_isnt_focus/
  16. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4378538/cops_tapped_barneys_phone/
  17. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4378635/barney_testifies_in_drug_case/
  18. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4378735/barney_through_as_a_lion/
  19. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4378786/barneys_regret/
  20. "Forgotten Barney longs for another shot at NFL"
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4378828/forgotten_barney_longs_for_another_shot/
  21. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377888/its_official_lem_barney_is_now_a_free/
  22. Detroit Free Press
  23. Los Angeles Times
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-crowe-20100830,0,3359295.column
  24. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/13464184/marvin-gaye-tryout-nfl-detroit-lions
  25. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4376477/great_on_the_grid_but_the_black_six/
  26. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377836/lions_lem_hauled_em_in/
  27. "Hall of Fame"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150419024452/http://www.jsutigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205703000
  28. "Full Roster"
    http://www.mshof.org/#!roster/c18io
  29. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4376650/hall_of_fame/
  30. "Lemuel "Lem" Barney"
    http://msfame.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/lemuel-lem-barney/
  31. New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/02/sports/football-4-with-singular-styles-stride-into-hall.html
  32. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377456/nfls_10_all_time_best_cornerbacks/
  33. Democrat and Chronicle
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4376402/sporting_news_top_100_football_players/
  34. Democrat and Chronicle
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4376754/detroit_lions_202020_vision/
  35. Pro-Football-Reference.com
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnLe00.htm
  36. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377723/lem_barney/
  37. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377759/barney_secondary_to_none/
  38. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377542/lem_barney_arrested_after_car_crash/
  39. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377585/barneys_friends_laud_his_charitable/
  40. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377605/a_hero_stumbles/
  41. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377511/no_decision_on_lem_barney/
  42. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377619/jury_clears_former_lion/
  43. The Supernatural: Lem Barney
  44. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4377016/ex_detroit_lion_files_discrimination/
  45. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/06/14/lem-barney-football-will-be-gone-in-20-years/2424499/
  46. Clarion-Ledger
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger/166559603/
  47. Detroit News
    https://archive.today/20230828003502/https://www.detroitnews.com/in-depth/sports/nfl/lions/2023/08/27/detroit-lions-lem-barney-in-failing-health-subject-of-bitter-family-battle-over-hall-of-famer/70586106007/
  48. WDIV-TV
    https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2025/11/29/family-says-reports-of-lions-legend-lem-barneys-death-are-false/
  49. WMYD
    https://www.tv20detroit.com/sports/family-of-legendary-detroit-lions-cb-lem-barney-says-hes-alive-after-reports-of-his-death
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