37 Facts About Burgess Owens

Clarence Burgess Owens was born on August 2,1951 and is an American politician, nonprofit executive and former professional football player serving as the US representative for Utah's 4th congressional district since 2021.

Burgess Owens played safety for 10 seasons for the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders, winning a championship with the Raiders in Super Bowl XV in 1980.

Since leaving the NFL, Owens has founded several businesses and is the CEO of a nonprofit dedicated to helping troubled and incarcerated youth.

Burgess Owens is one of four black Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Burgess Owens was born in Columbus, Ohio, where his Texas-born father had come to do graduate studies he could not complete in Texas due to Jim Crow laws.

The family later moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where Burgess Owens's father taught as a college professor.

Burgess Owens graduated from Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1969.

Burgess Owens was one of four African-American players who were integrated onto a football team at a historically white high school.

Burgess Owens was the third of four black athletes recruited to play at the University of Miami and the third black student to earn a scholarship.

Burgess Owens was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall Of Fame in 1980, and its Orange Bowl "Ring of Honor" in 1999.

Burgess Owens was a regular starter for the Jets for most of the 1970s, and was a part of the Raiders' 1980 Super Bowl XV championship team.

Burgess Owens later relocated to a small apartment in Brooklyn, where he worked as a chimney sweep and security guard.

Burgess Owens later moved to Philadelphia, where he took a sales job with WordPerfect.

Burgess Owens is a founder, board member, and CEO of Second Chance 4 Youth, founded in 2019, a nonprofit dedicated to helping troubled and incarcerated youth.

Burgess Owens has been a frequent guest contributor at Fox News.

In November 2019, Burgess Owens announced that he would run for the US House of Representatives in Utah's 4th congressional district.

Burgess Owens was one of four candidates in the Republican primary.

Burgess Owens defeated challengers KSL radio personality Jay McFarland and businessman Trent Christensen.

Burgess Owens was a speaker at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Burgess Owens faced Democratic incumbent Ben McAdams in the general election.

In late 2020, Burgess Owens was identified as a participant in the "Freedom Force", a group of incoming Republican members of the House of Representatives who oppose far-left ideology in the House, specifically the progressive group called "the Squad".

On January 6,2021, during the certification of electoral votes for the 2020 United States presidential election, Burgess Owens opposed the objection to the electors from Arizona, but supported the objection to the electors from Pennsylvania.

In 2021, Burgess Owens opposed the For the People Act, a Democratic-sponsored bill to reform election laws.

In 2021, Burgess Owens co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act, the Republican alternative to the Equality Act.

Burgess Owens has said his views were liberal upon leaving the NFL in 1982.

In June 2019, Burgess Owens provided testimony to a United States House Committee on the Judiciary subcommittee opposing a bill that advocated reparations for slavery.

Burgess Owens has criticized US national anthem protests and Colin Kaepernick.

In November 2019, Burgess Owens called Donald Trump "an advocate for black Americans".

At a June 1,2020, Republican primary debate, Burgess Owens said Democrats in Washington are held in thrall by Marxists and socialists.

Burgess Owens said the Affordable Care Act should be repealed and that he supported President Trump.

Later on in the campaign, Burgess Owens changed his stance, saying that coverage for preexisting conditions should be protected, and that he did not support repeal of Obamacare.

Burgess Owens stated his opposition to a minimum wage increase.

On July 19,2022, Burgess Owens was among 47 Republican representatives who voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.

However, Burgess Owens voted "present" on final passage on December 8,2022.

In 2022, Burgess Owens was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.

Burgess Owens is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has spoken publicly about his faith.

Burgess Owens joined the Church during his final season with the Oakland Raiders.