Alabama A&M player Medrick Burnett Jr. dies from injuries sustained at the Magic City Classic in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Medrick Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old football player for Alabama A&M University, died Wednesday, a month after suffering a serious injury during a football game.

Burnett Jr., a linebacker who was injured during the Magic City Classic on Oct. 26 in Birmingham, was pronounced dead at UAB Hospital at 5:43 p.m. Wednesday, a month after the Classic, reported Matt Angelo, deputy medical examiner Jefferson County on Friday.

According to a post on GoFundMe by his sister Dominece James, Burnett suffered multiple brain hemorrhages after a head-on collision during a tackle in the game that pitted Alabama A&M against Alabama State University at Legion Field. James said that Burnett underwent a craniotomy during his stay in the intensive care unit to reduce the swelling in his brain, adding that it was “the last resort to try to save his life.”

“Please pray that this is difficult for him, but we will persevere until the end,” James wrote Wednesday, hours before Burnett’s death. “God give us strength so that we can keep the faith.”

On Wednesday morning, Alabama A&M incorrectly reported that Burnett had died, but later retracted its statement after confirming that he was still alive and in stable condition at the time. A university official attributed the error to incorrect information.

Burnett, a redshirt freshman originally from Lakewood, California, had played at Grambling State during the 2023 season before transferring to Alabama A&M. During the season, Burnett had three solo tackles and two assists for Alabama A&M before his death.

No cause of death was given for Burnett, although tests are still pending.