Lem Barney

Infobox NFLretired


|position=Cornerback
number=20
birthdate=birth date and age|1945|9|8
Gulfport, Mississippi
deathdate=
debutyear=1967
finalyear=1977
draftyear=1967
draftround=2
draftpick=34
college=Jackson State
teams=
* Detroit Lions (1967-1977)
stat1label=Interceptions
stat1value=56
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=1,077
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=7
nfl=BAR489390
highlights=
* 7x Pro Bowl selection (1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976)
* 7x All-Pro selection (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975)
* NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
* 1967 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
HOF=19

Lemuel Joseph Barney (born September 8, 1945, in Gulfport, Mississippi) is a former American Football cornerback who played for the Detroit Lions. He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

College Years

Barney attended Jackson State University where he was a three-time All-Southwestern Conference star with 26 career interceptions. Barney is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Pro career

Barney was a second round draft choice in 1967. He was named 1967's defensive rookie of the year, and went on to be selected to seven Pro Bowls. During his time in the NFL, Barney had 56 career interceptions, and also gained over 1000 yards each returning kickoffs and punts.

In 1999, he was ranked number 97 on "The Sporting News"' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

Both Barney and Lions teammate Mel Farr befriended Motown star Marvin Gaye, when Gaye unsuccessfully tried out for the Lions in 1970. Barney and Farr sing background vocals on Gaye's classic 1971 song "What's Going On",Fact|date=April 2008 for which Lem earned a Gold Record. Lem Barney also had a role in the film "The Black Six" and appeared as himself in "Paper Lion". He is now a minister. He also married Benny and Staci White in 1994

External links

* [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=19 Hall of Fame bio]
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/10500/ Yahoo! Sports Profile]