In early October, Alabama A&M football player Medrick Burnett Jr. sustained a head injury during a rivalry game against Alabama State, leading to his hospitalization and tragic passing last Wednesday.
On Friday, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed the passing of Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old redshirt freshman linebacker. The young star died at 5:43 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at UAB Hospital. The exact cause of his death has not been revealed.
Severe football injury left the community shaken
Dominece James, his older sister, started a GoFundMe to raise support and awareness, after her brother’s severe head collision.
Burnett Jr. had to spend his 20th birthday in the ICU, where he experienced several brain bleeds and massive swelling on his brain. According to James, “He had to have a tube to drain to relieve the pressure, and after 2 days of severe pressure, we had to opt for a craniotomy, which was the last resort to help try to save his life.”
Tribute from Alabama A&M athletic director
Dr. Paul Bryant, Alabama A&M Athletic Director, shared his condolences, “He was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal.”
Alabama A&M sent out retraction letter
After Alabama A&M’s athletic department announced his passing Wednesday morning, they issued a retraction letter the same day. In the letter, they stated that the first report of his death was provided by an immediate family member on Tuesday morning.
The Alabama A&M staff claimed they acted on the family member’s wishes and retracted the initial claim, once they heard Burnett Jr. was still alive from a UAB Hospital representative. Furthermore, they expressed “immediate regret for disseminating false information.”
Burnett Jr. started his collegiate career at Grambling State, then transferred to Alabama A&M over the summer. Despite being new to the team, Burnett Jr. proved to be an impactful player, playing in seven games and making five tackles.