:Jeff Burkett
{{Short description|American football player (1921–1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jeff Burkett
| image =
| position = Wide receiver, punter
| number = 35
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|07|15}}
| birth_place = Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1947|10|24|1921|07|15}}
| death_place = Bryce Canyon, Utah, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 190
| high_school = Laurel (MS)
| college = LSU
| undraftedyear =
| pastteams =
- Chicago Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1947}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 3
| pfr = BurkJe20
}}
Jefferson Davis Burkett (July 15, 1921 – October 24, 1947) was an American professional football player. He was a part of the Chicago Cardinals NFL championship team in 1947.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/tag/_/name/best-teams-ever-2010|title=NFC West}} He died in a plane crash while returning to the team following surgery for appendicitis.
Professional 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkJe20.htm|title = Jeff Burkett Stats| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}
Death
{{main|United Airlines Flight 608}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/sports/football/15cardinals.html|title = Memories of the Cardinals' Last N.F.L. Championship|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 15 January 2009|last1 = Branch|first1 = John}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{find a Grave|82242531}}
{{1947 Chicago Cardinals}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burkett, Jeff}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:LSU Tigers football players
Category:Chicago Cardinals players
Category:Players of American football from Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1947
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States