Lions legend Barry Sanders reveals shocking health scare with hopes of helping others

Barry Sanders is stepping back into the spotlight in the hopes of helping others.

The Detroit Lions legendary running back revealed to CBS Sports that he suffered a heart attack about a year ago.

The story will be detailed on A&E on Saturday at 1 p.m. in "The Making of a Heart Attack."

"I couldn't believe it, honestly," Sanders told CBS Sports. "I thought it was like heartburn, but it just kind of persisted."

Sanders encouraged others to be diligent.

"Of all things, I don't know why, that just never entered my mind," Sanders said of the idea of having a heart attack. "I'm learning through this process that there aren't necessarily any warning signs, unless you do what we're encouraging people to do, which is to go the doctor, get tested for LDLC levels, or bad cholesterol. That's the only way to find out if you have high cholesterol. It's not something you're going to be able to feel. You don't have to fit a certain physical profile." 

The Lions legend is remembered for his incredible play on the field and his unexpected early retirement.

He's hoping to bring this new role into light now, too.

"It's really been an education, for me, learning about how frequent this happens all over the U.S.," Sanders said. "Conversing with these other individuals who are part of this documentary who have very insightful, gripping stories about the journey that they've been on. It's just really amazing. I think it will get a lot of people's attention." 

Sanders had revealed shortly after the heart attack that he had undergone a health scare but hadn't shared what it was. Even then, he got great support from Lions and NFL fans, and that surely will continue.

"I have great appreciation for it," Sanders said. "Really warmed my heart, the response from fans, to know that that many fans cared that much and cared in that way about how I was doing, what I was going through. It meant a lot to me."