Former Texas Longhorns and NFL wide receiver Jordan Shipley is recovering in an Austin hospital after suffering severe burns in a machinery accident on his ranch in Central Texas, according to a statement released by his family.
Shipley remains in critical but stable condition following the incident that occurred on Tuesday near Shipley‘s hometown of Burnet, when the machine he was operating caught fire.
Despite managing to escape, he sustained serious burns before reaching help. One of his ranch workers drove him to a local hospital, after which he was airlifted to Austin for specialized treatment.
“Jordan was involved in an accident this afternoon near his hometown of Burnet,” the family said in a statement.
“The machine he was operating on his ranch caught fire, and although he managed to get out, it was not before sustaining severe burns on his body in the process.
“He was able to get to one of his workers on the ranch who drove him to a local hospital. He was then care-flighted to Austin, where he remains in critical but stable condition.”
A career defined by resilience on and off the field
Shipley, 40, carved out a lasting legacy long before his brief NFL career, becoming one of the most accomplished wide receivers in University of Texas history. He played for the Longhorns from 2004 through 2009, appearing in 53 games and emerging as a centerpiece of the offense during the program’s late-2000s run.
In October 2008, Shipley delivered one of the most memorable performances of his college career, hauling in 15 receptions for 168 yards against Oklahoma State to set a school record.
He followed that season with another 1,000-yard campaign in 2009, earning All-American honors as Texas captured the Big 12 title and advanced to the national championship game.
His college success led to an NFL opportunity when the Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the No. 84 overall pick in the 2010 draft. Shipley made an immediate impression, returning a punt 63 yards in his first preseason appearance.
However, his professional momentum was halted the following season by a devastating knee injury that included tears to both his ACL and MCL.
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