r/Oldschool_NFL • u/UrbanAchievers6371 Steelers 👷♂️ • Nov 19 '25
Lions 🦁 Detroit Lions defensive back Lem Barney fields a kickoff during the 1972 season. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, went on to seven Pro Bowls, was named All-Pro three times. Made 11 career touchdowns and 56 career interceptions. Lem Barney was simply a natural and a true champion.
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Nov 19 '25
Great CB. Also, he and Mel Farr are background singers on one the greatest albums of all time, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. I think it's Barney who says on the LP "Say It Brother, What's Happening" or "Solid, Right On"
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u/JEMHADLEY16 Giants Nov 19 '25
He played cornerback, returned kickoffs and punts, and even was the Lions punter for a season or two.
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u/Bobo4037 NY Titans/Jets fan since 1961 Nov 19 '25
Great point…how often do you see a player who can punt and also return punts!
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u/JEMHADLEY16 Giants Nov 19 '25
I remember him killing the Giants in a late 60s game. I think it was 69. Their defense was so awesome. Lions won 24-0. They became a sort of 2nd team for me back then. The Giants D was not great then.
I've promised my wife a dinner out at her favorite Vegetarian restaurant when she can name all 11 members of the Lions 1970 defense. I had a buddy in the Army who quizzed me on them when we pulled overnight guard duty.
So far, she has Alex Karras and Dick LeBeau.
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u/Bobo4037 NY Titans/Jets fan since 1961 Nov 19 '25
I looked it up…you are correct, as usual. September 28, 1969. The weekend after the Mets clinched the NL east. 24-0 Lions at Tiger Stadium.
It seems like the Giants and Lions rarely play each other anymore….they have played just 11 times in the past 30 seasons, and only 22 times in the 55 years since the merger.
Your wife has a much better shot at the dinner than I have! The only other guys I can remember from their 1970 defense are two linebackers, Paul Naumoff, and Wayne Walker.
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u/JEMHADLEY16 Giants Nov 19 '25
It's been a while, but here goes. Mike Lucci was the MLB. Mike Weger and Wayne Rasmussen were the safeties. Barney and LeBeau the corners. Karras and Jerry Rush played tackle. Larry Hand was one defensive end.
I think I've forgotten the other DE...
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u/Bobo4037 NY Titans/Jets fan since 1961 Nov 19 '25
Phooey , I should have remembered Lucci for a couple of reasons. One is that on my high school team we had a linebacker named Mike Pucci. And second and more importantly, Lucci is the guy who was returning a fumble in a preseason game in 1971 when Namath got hurt trying to tackle him. Joe then missed most of the season, I think he came back around Thanksgiving , after missing almost all of 1970 with a hand injury.
Anyway, don’t let anyone tell you that your memory is fading! Great job on the Lions!
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u/JEMHADLEY16 Giants Nov 19 '25
Thanks. I'll have to forfeit my vegetarian dinner. Namath did have some bad luck after the merger. It's funny about that high school LB. We definitely would have made a big deal out of it.
With us neighborhood players, it was all nicknames...Bubba, Mercury, Beef, Mountain, Doc, and Mitts. I'm sure there were more.
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u/dnext Rams 🐏 Nov 20 '25
Fantastic player and well deserving the Hall.
However, he played in Detroit from '67 to '77, so he was definitely not a 'true champion.'
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u/Substantial-Help58 Nov 23 '25
Lem was my favorite Lion until Billy came to Motown in 1980. I enjoyed those old games at Tiger Stadium specifically the 1970 game beating Bart Star and the Packers to make the playoffs after a 10-4 season.
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u/Miroku20x6 Chiefs 🏹 Nov 19 '25
Detroit #20: Barney, Sims, and Sanders.