Lem Barney

High school

Gulfport High School

College

Jackson State University

Pro team(s)

Detroit Lions

Hall of Fame

⭐ Pro Football Hall of Fame

Lemuel Jackson Barney was born on September 8, 1945, in Gulfport, Mississippi, and attended Gulfport High School before going on to Jackson State University, where he became a consensus All-American cornerback. The Detroit Lions selected him seventh overall in the 1967 NFL Draft, and Barney proceeded to have one of the most dominant rookie seasons ever recorded by a defensive back: he intercepted 10 passes — returning three for touchdowns — and was named the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in one of the most celebrated debut seasons the position had ever seen. Over 11 seasons with the Detroit Lions, Barney made 56 career interceptions and established himself as one of the most gifted and instinctive cornerbacks of the NFL's first great era of the position. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, known for his exceptional anticipation, athleticism, and ability to make plays both in coverage and as a punt returner. He was also a capable punter — a genuine multi-threat player who could change the dynamics of a game in multiple ways simultaneously. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Born and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi.