Leon Keith Burns was an American professional football player who was a running back for two years in the National Football League.
16 Facts About Leon Burns
1.
2.
In 1969, while playing for Long Beach State, Leon Burns led all college football players in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
3.
Leon Burns holds the school records for career carries, rushing yards, points, and touchdowns of the now defunct Long Beach State 49ers football program.
4.
Leon Burns was born in 1942 and grew up on the west side of Oakland, California.
5.
Leon Burns was first noticed in 1965 by Don Kloppenburg, the football coach at Laney College, when he brought his team to San Quentin Prison to play a game against a team of inmates, one of whom was Leon Burns.
6.
Leon Burns transferred to Long Beach State in time for the 1969 season.
7.
In 1969, Leon Burns recorded the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns of any college football player.
8.
Leon Burns caught ten passes for 149 yards and a touchdown as the Long Beach State 49ers finished second in their conference with a record of eight wins and three losses.
9.
Leon Burns was elected to the 1970 College Football All-America Team by Pro Football Weekly and the Newspaper Enterprise Association.
10.
Leon Burns was one of three Long Beach State players named first-team All-American and became one of two to be selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft.
11.
Leon Burns was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft.
12.
On January 31,1972, a day before the 1972 NFL draft, Leon Burns was traded to the St Louis Cardinals in exchange for running back Cid Edwards.
13.
In 1972 with the Cardinals, Leon Burns ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns on 26 attempts and caught six passes for 24 yards.
14.
Leon Burns was signed by the Portland Storm of the World Football League in 1974.
15.
Leon Burns married his wife, Diane, and had three children with her prior to being drafted into the NFL.
16.
Leon Burns was shot to death in southeast Los Angeles on December 22,1984.