NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders has revealed that he suffered a heart attack in June 2024 during a college recruiting trip with his son, marking a major health scare that prompted lifestyle changes and greater awareness about heart health.
The 56-year-old former Detroit Lions running back opened up about the incident in an interview with CBS Sports, recalling how he initially believed the discomfort he was experiencing was simply heartburn. However, when the symptoms persisted, Sanders left the visit and checked into an emergency room.
Medical evaluations, including a heart catheter procedure, confirmed he had suffered a heart attack.
Since then, Sanders said he has overhauled his daily routine to prioritize his well-being. He now takes prescribed medications, eats more healthfully, and engages in regular walking as a form of heart-friendly exercise.
“It’s definitely made me healthier and happier,” Sanders said. “Being the kind of athlete that I was, I would see people walking and I would wonder, like, ‘What kind of workout is that?’ But there’s a thing called a heart-healthy workout, where you’re just getting your heart rate up a little bit over a certain period of time, and that’s just really good for your heart.”
He admitted that before the incident, he lacked awareness about the importance of such routines. “There was just a certain ignorance that I had about things like that. But all of it has been a learning process,” he added.
Sanders also acknowledged the public response to his health revelation, saying the support he received after announcing the incident meant a great deal to him.
Now, the NFL legend is urging others to listen to their bodies and take proactive steps toward heart health, emphasizing that everyone’s condition and needs are different.
