Larry Burton
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Godfrey "Larry" Burton (born December 15, 1951 in Northampton, Virginia) is a former professional American football
player and world-class Olympic sprinter, finishing fourth for the United States
team in the 200 meter final at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich
, West Germany
.
Burton was selected by the New Orleans Saints
in the first round (7th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft
; a wide receiver
from Purdue University
, he played in the NFL
for five seasons for the Saints and the San Diego Chargers
between 1975 and 1979. Despite having over 250 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons, he was never able to become a regular starter
for any team.
Burton's grandson Trey Burton is a hybrid QB/TE/HB for the Florida Gators
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and world-class Olympic sprinter, finishing fourth for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
team in the 200 meter final at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Burton was selected by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the first round (7th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft
1975 NFL Draft
The 1975 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1975.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
; a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, he played in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for five seasons for the Saints and the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
between 1975 and 1979. Despite having over 250 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons, he was never able to become a regular starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
for any team.
Burton's grandson Trey Burton is a hybrid QB/TE/HB for the Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
.