Back in the 1990s, Barry Sanders struck fear into the hearts of defenses across the NFL.
He set a number of league records in his 10 pro seasons, and many consider him the greatest running back in the history of football.
Unfortunately, Sanders, who is 55 years of age, announced on his official Twitter account that he experienced a health scare related to his heart, while expressing his gratitude for the doctors who helped him out.
Even former pro athletes who remain healthy and in shape aren’t immune from heart problems when they get up there in age.
Of course, the main health concern for retired football players is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), but other ailments can come up.
Sanders was the No. 3 pick in the 1989 draft by the Detroit Lions, and he quickly put the long-suffering franchise on the map.
Sanders ran for 1,470 yards and 14 touchdowns as a rookie, earning him Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team honors, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons.
In 1997, his penultimate season, he became one of a handful of running backs to record at least 2,000 rushing yards in a single year.
After he retired following the 1998 season, the Lions struggled for a long time to become relevant again, but last season, they finally became a power by winning 12 games, finishing first in the NFC North and reaching the conference championship game.
