Jeff Burkett
No. 35 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Position: | Wide receiver, punter | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | (1921-07-15)July 15, 1921 Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. | ||
Died: | October 24, 1947(1947-10-24) (aged 26) Bryce Canyon, Utah, U.S. | ||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Laurel (MS) | ||
College: | LSU | ||
Career history | |||
| |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
| |||
Career NFL statistics | |||
| |||
Player stats at PFR | |||
Jefferson Davis Burkett (July 15, 1921 – October 24, 1947) was an American football player. He was a part of the Chicago Cardinals NFL championship team in 1947.[1] He died in a plane crash while returning to the team following surgery for appendicitis.
Pro career
After playing at LSU, Burkett was signed by the Cardinals. He was not only a punter for the Cardinals, but was also one of the team's receivers as well. Though his career only consisted of three games before his untimely death, Burkett had caught two passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. In addition to playing end and punter, Burkett also played as a defensive back, intercepting a pass and returning it for 25 yards.[2]
Death
Burkett was suffering from appendicitis after a game against the Los Angeles Rams, who had beaten the Cardinals 27–7, handing Chicago their first loss of the season. Burkett opted to stay behind and have the surgery to remove his appendix. Once he was released from the hospital, Burkett boarded a United Airlines DC-6. The flight, United Air Lines Flight 608, crashed in Utah, killing all 52 people aboard. At the time of his death, Burkett was the league's leading punter. After Burkett's death, Cardinals quarterback Charley Trippi took over the punting duties. Trippi admitted taking over for Burkett was hard and he thought of his fallen teammate every time he punted in a game.[3]
References
External links
- Jeff Burkett at Find a Grave
- v
- t
- e
- Plato Andros
- Elmer Angsman
- Ray Apolskis
- Loyd Arms
- Vince Banonis
- Bill Blackburn
- Chet Bulger
- Jeff Burkett
- Bill Campbell
- Paul Christman
- Red Cochran
- Jake Colhouer
- Joe Coomer
- Bill DeCorrevont
- Bill Dewell
- Babe Dimancheff
- John Doolan
- Clarence Esser
- Marshall Goldberg
- Pat Harder
- Frank Ivy
- Jack Karwales
- Mal Kutner
- Ray Mallouf
- Caleb Martin
- Stan Mauldin
- Hamilton Nichols
- Joe Parker
- Dick Plasman
- Buster Ramsey
- Walt Rankin
- Vic Schwall
- Charles Smith
- Walt Szot
- Charley Trippi
- Bob Zimny
- Head coach: Jimmy Conzelman
- Assistant coach: Arch Wolfe