Ken Burrough, the former Houston Oilers receiver who was the last NFL player to wear No. 00, died Thursday at his home here in Jacksonville. He was 73.
Burrough played in the NFL for 12 years, making the Pro Bowl in 1975 and 1977. He led the NFL in receiving yards in 1975. He starred here at Raines High School before going to college at Texas Southern, where he excelled. He is a member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame. He was selected 10th overall in the 1970 draft. No player who played high school in Jacksonville has ever been drafted higher in the NFL since the merger. (Travis Taylor was also drafted 10 overall in 2000)
As for the last man to wear the number 00, the NFL for some reason ruled that jersey numbers should start with 1 back in the 70s but Burrough was grandfathered in since he was currently wearing it. He makes for a great trivia question, but his career and life were certainly anything but trivial. May his memory be eternal.