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Ode Burrell
Ode Burrell
Ode Burrell
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Ode Burrell Jr. (September 15, 1939 – February 28, 2009) was an American professional football player. A halfback, he played high school football at Durant, Mississippi[1] college football at Mississippi State University, where he was the MVP of the Liberty Bowl and the Blue-Gray Game.[2] He played professionally in the American Football League (AFL) for the Houston Oilers from 1964 through 1969. During his career he was a versatile player. In his best season, 1965, he rushed for 528 yards, caught 55 passes for 650 yards, and returned punts and kickoffs for an additional 241 yards. He was an American Football League All-Star in 1965. After retiring from the NFL, Burrell coached at numerous high schools including Bogalusa High School, Stone County in Wiggins, Mississippi, Vancleave High School, and St. Stanislaus High School. He also coached at two community colleges, Holmes Community College and Gulf Coast Community College.[1][2] Burrell died February 28, 2009, of complications from diabetes.[3]

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Ode Burrell

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Ode Burrell was an American professional football player known for his versatile contributions as a running back, wide receiver, and special teams performer with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League during the 1960s. He earned selection to the 1965 AFL All-Star Game and played six seasons in the league, showcasing his skills in rushing, receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns. Born on September 15, 1939, in Goodman, Mississippi, Burrell starred at Mississippi State University from 1962 to 1963, where he excelled as a tailback, cornerback, punter, and return specialist. He earned All-SEC recognition, was named a Coaches All-American, and received MVP honors in the Liberty Bowl and Senior Bowl, helping lead his team in multiple statistical categories without a loss in full games he played during his senior year. Although selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1964 NFL Draft, Burrell joined the Houston Oilers after being taken in the AFL Draft that same year, playing exclusively for the franchise through 1969. Following his retirement, he transitioned to coaching at the high school and junior college levels. Burrell was inducted into the Mississippi State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995 and passed away on February 28, 2009, at age 69 due to complications from diabetes.

Early life and education

Birth and upbringing

Ode Burrell Jr. was born on September 15, 1939, in Goodman, Holmes County, Mississippi, though some records refer to the nearby community of Gum Grove as his birthplace. He was the son of Ode E. Burrell Sr. and Myrtice Burrell. Burrell spent his early years in the Durant, Mississippi area, a rural region in Holmes County where he grew up before later attending high school in Durant. Limited details are available about his childhood beyond these vital records and family information.

High school football

Ode Burrell played football at Durant High School in Durant, Mississippi. As a standout athlete during his high school years, he demonstrated strong skills that earned him recognition among college recruiters in the region. His performance at Durant High School directly contributed to his recruitment and subsequent scholarship offer from Mississippi State University. Details on specific positions, statistics, or awards from his high school career are scarce in available records, but his athletic ability at this level was pivotal in launching his higher-level football career.

College career

Mississippi State University

Ode Burrell played college football at Mississippi State University, where he lettered as a tailback on offense and cornerback on defense for the Bulldogs from 1962 to 1963. He also served as the team's leading punter, punt returner, and kickoff returner during those seasons and earned All-SEC honors along with selection to the Coaches All-American team. As a member of the 1963 squad, Burrell helped lead Mississippi State's ground game during a season in which the team did not lose any contest where he played the full game. That year culminated in the Liberty Bowl, where the Bulldogs faced North Carolina State in Philadelphia. Mississippi State defeated North Carolina State 16–12 in the 1963 Liberty Bowl, with Burrell named the game's Most Valuable Player for his leadership in the rushing attack amid difficult freezing conditions that limited passing.

Professional football career

Draft and signing with Houston Oilers

In the 1964 NFL Draft, Ode Burrell was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round with the 36th overall pick. Concurrently, in the 1964 AFL Draft, he was chosen by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round with the 30th overall selection. Following his standout career at Mississippi State University, Burrell signed with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League rather than pursuing the NFL opportunity with the Packers. He entered professional football as a running back. This decision aligned him with the AFL amid the era's competition between the two leagues for talent, though specific motivations for his choice remain unelaborated in primary records.

AFL playing tenure (1964–1969)

Ode Burrell spent his entire professional football career with the Houston Oilers in the American Football League from 1964 to 1969, appearing in 59 regular-season games with 34 starts and participating in two playoff contests. He primarily played as a running back and wide receiver (flanker), demonstrating early versatility as a dual-threat offensive player before shifting toward special teams contributions later in his tenure. Burrell made an immediate impression as a rookie in 1964 despite limited offensive snaps, returning a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown on his first play in professional football. His breakout season arrived in 1965, when he started all 14 games and posted career highs with 130 rushing attempts for 528 yards and three touchdowns, complemented by 55 receptions for 650 yards and four scores, totaling 1,178 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns while earning selection to the AFL All-Star Game. He remained a productive starter in 1966, carrying 122 times for 406 yards and catching 33 passes for 400 yards with five receiving touchdowns. Burrell's role gradually diminished after 1966, with reduced offensive involvement in 1967 and only one appearance in 1968 before a part-time resurgence in 1969, where he started two of 13 games and handled punting duties with 29 punts for a 36.8-yard average. Across his six seasons with the Oilers, he recorded 304 rushing attempts for 1,088 yards and three touchdowns, along with 112 receptions for 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns, amassing 2,467 scrimmage yards and 12 offensive touchdowns plus one more on a kick return for a career total of 13 touchdowns.

Career statistics and awards

During his six-season professional career with the Houston Oilers in the American Football League from 1964 to 1969, Ode Burrell played in 59 games and compiled career totals of 304 rushing attempts for 1,088 yards and 3 touchdowns at an average of 3.6 yards per carry. He also recorded 112 receptions for 1,379 yards and 9 touchdowns, along with one kickoff return touchdown among his 33 kickoff returns for 838 yards. These contributions resulted in a career scoring total of 82 points. Burrell's most productive year came in 1965, when he amassed 1,178 scrimmage yards and 7 touchdowns (3 rushing and 4 receiving). For his performance that season, he earned selection to the AFL All-Star Game. He also received second-team All-AFL recognition from the New York Daily News in 1965.

Television appearances

Sports broadcast credits

Ode Burrell appeared as himself in television broadcasts of American Football League games during his tenure as a player with the Houston Oilers. He was credited in 20 episodes of The NFL on NBC from 1965 to 1969, with roles listed variously as Self - Houston Oilers Halfback, Self - Houston Oilers Wide Receiver, Self - Houston Oilers Running Back, and Self - Houston Oilers Punter. These were non-acting appearances tied directly to his participation in the league's televised matches. Burrell also featured in 3 episodes of AFL on ABC in 1964, credited as Self - Houston Oilers Running Back and Self - Wide Receiver. In addition, he appeared in the 1967 AFL Championship Game television special as Self - Houston Oilers Flanker.

Later life and death

Retirement and post-football years

After retiring from professional football following the 1969 AFL season with the Houston Oilers, Ode Burrell transitioned into a career as a football coach at several high schools and junior colleges in Mississippi and Louisiana. He served in coaching roles at Bogalusa High School, Holmes Community College, Vancleave High School, Stone County High School, and St. Stanislaus High School before retiring from coaching at Gulf Coast Community College. In his later years, Burrell resided in Gautier, Mississippi. He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

Death

Ode Burrell Jr. died on February 28, 2009, at the age of 69 from complications of diabetes. He passed away in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, while residing in Gautier, Mississippi. Burrell was buried at Serene Memorial Gardens in Moss Point, Jackson County, Mississippi.

Legacy

Honors and induction

Ode Burrell was inducted into the Mississippi State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. These honors recognized his distinguished contributions to athletics in the state across high school, college, and professional levels. The 1997 induction highlighted his impact as a multi-sport standout and his successful tenure in the American Football League with the Houston Oilers. His professional achievements included selection to the 1965 AFL All-Star Game and second-team All-AFL honors that same year, reflecting his versatility as a running back and receiver during a standout season with the Oilers. These accolades underscored the skill and all-purpose production that defined his AFL career from 1964 to 1969.
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