Ken Burrough facts for kids
| No. 00 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
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| Born: | July 14, 1948 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
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| Died: | February 24, 2022 (aged 73) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | William M. Raines (Jacksonville, Florida) |
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| College: | Texas Southern | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Kenneth Othell Burrough (born July 14, 1948 – died February 24, 2022) was an American professional football player. He was a talented wide receiver for the Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he was a track star and played quarterback at William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He then played wide receiver at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, where he was named an All-American in 1969.
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Playing in the NFL
Kenneth Burrough was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft. This meant he was one of the top 10 players picked that year! He had some minor injuries in his first season. He caught 13 passes and scored two touchdowns for the Saints.
In 1971, Burrough was traded to the Houston Oilers. This was a big move for his career.
Time with the Houston Oilers
Burrough played for the Oilers for eleven seasons, from 1971 to 1981. He became a star player for the team.
In 1975, he had an amazing year. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl, which is a special game for the best players in the NFL. That year, he led all wide receivers in the NFL with 1,063 receiving yards. He was the only receiver to gain more than a thousand yards that season! He also scored eight touchdowns and averaged 20.1 yards every time he caught the ball.
Many people thought Burrough was one of the most exciting players in the NFL. He was known for making big plays. Six of his eight touchdowns in 1975 were for 50 yards or more! This shows how fast and skilled he was. In one game, he caught a pass and ran 68 yards for a touchdown.
Burrough was also selected for the Pro Bowl again in 1977. The Oilers had successful seasons in 1978 and 1979. They made it to the AFC Championship game both years, which is just one step away from the Super Bowl. However, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who went on to win the Super Bowl.
His Unique Jersey Number
Kenneth Burrough was the very last NFL player to wear the number 00 on his jersey. The league changed the rules in 1973, saying that numbers had to be between 1 and 89. But because Burrough and another player, Jim Otto, were already wearing 00, they were allowed to keep it for the rest of their careers. This is called a "grandfather clause."
Burrough ended his career with impressive stats for the Oilers/Titans. He has the third most receiving yards in the team's history with 6,906 yards. He is also tied for third in receiving touchdowns with 47.
Later Life and Legacy
In 2016, Kenneth Burrough was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. This recognized his great career and impact on the sport.
Kenneth Burrough passed away in Jacksonville, Florida, on February 24, 2022, at the age of 73.
