On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, CBS Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV lost a treasured figure, Jon Burnett, at the age of 71. Dr. Joseph Malone, a Cognitive Neurologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, reported that Burnett’s death was due to complications from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
“Beloved former KDKA-TV personality Jon Burnett has died. Remembered as authentic, original, talented and compassionate, he leaves behind an incredible legacy,” announced the station via an Instagram post confirming his death.
Before retiring in 2019, Burnett had a distinguished 37-year broadcasting career in Pittsburgh. In his final years, he struggled with neurological disorders, including memory loss. He was suspected to have CTE, a progressive degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head traumas.
Prior to his career in broadcasting, Burnett played defensive end for the University of Tennessee football team and graduated in 1976. During his time as an athlete, he had two major concussions and numerous head impacts.
In a February 2024 interview with KDKA-TV, Burnett shared his experiences about his injuries. “If I can help anybody on this road, who is on this road or will be on this road in the years ahead, I feel better about being able to do that,” he stated.
Burnett also revealed that he had committed to posthumously donating his brain to the National Sports Brain Bank at the University of Pittsburgh to aid research and treatment of brain disorders and CTE. He remembered experiencing hundreds of collisions throughout his football career, typically hitting other players 30 to 40 times each game.
CTE, which can only be definitively diagnosed after death, is frequently diagnosed in athletes who participate in contact sports, military members, and victims of physical abuse. However, not all who suffer repeated concussions develop the condition.
Burnett’s career at KDKA-TV began in 1982 as a co-host of “Evening Magazine” with Liz Miles and later with Mary Robb Jackson. His authentic Southern charm swiftly won the hearts of Pittsburgh viewers. Jackson told KDKA, “There’s something that comes through that screen and you really can’t fool it, and I think Jon was just a natural,” adding, “He was my partner, one of the most significant people in my life.”
Three years after joining “Evening Magazine,” Burnett shifted to host “Pittsburgh 2Day.” By the 1990s, he had transitioned to meteorology, where he remained a mainstay for almost three decades until his retirement.
Patrice King Brown, his “Pittsburgh 2Day” co-anchor, expressed her grief to KDKA, saying, “My TV brother. I will love him forever.”
Burnett was remembered by colleagues for his spontaneity, emotional transparency, and versatility as a broadcaster. Former KDKA meteorologist Dennis Bowman reflected, “When you saw Jon on TV, you would immediately say, ‘That’s a guy I wouldn’t mind having in my living room live and in person.'”
Burnett was known for his adventurous spirit on camera. He would try various activities during broadcasts, including riding roller coasters, skiing, and performing other daring feats that kept viewers entertained throughout western Pennsylvania.
By February 2024, when he revealed his CTE diagnosis, Burnett’s health had significantly deteriorated. His short-term memory, voice, and mobility had declined to the point where he required help from his wife, Debbie.
The Burnett family decided to share Jon’s story to help others understand CTE and its impact, de-stigmatize brain diseases, and contribute to important research at the University of Pittsburgh. Their advocacy significantly helped raise awareness and increase enrollment in the university’s brain research program.
Despite his diagnosis, Burnett stated he would have still played football if he had to do it over again. His love for the sport remained undiminished, even as he grappled with its aftermath.
Originally named Jonathan Haynes Jr., Burnett was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. After attending Bearden High School, he played football at the University of Tennessee. He started his television career in his home state before moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1982, where he rapidly became a household name.
Throughout his 37-year career at KDKA, Burnett effortlessly switched between roles as host, anchor, and weatherman, showcasing an impressive versatility that few broadcasters achieve. His genuine on-screen presence and kind nature endeared him to colleagues and viewers alike.
But Burnett’s legacy goes beyond his television career. His bravery in sharing his CTE diagnosis and participation in brain research holds the potential to help future generations of athletes avoid similar neurological outcomes.
He is survived by his wife, Debbie, and their adult children, Samantha and Eric.
