Former Texas Star Jordan Shipley Hospitalized After Ranch Accident
Jordan Shipley, the former Texas Longhorns standout and NFL wide receiver, is in critical but stable condition after suffering severe burns in a ranch accident near his hometown of Burnet, Texas.
According to a statement from his family, the incident occurred Tuesday when a machine Shipley was operating on his ranch caught fire. Though he was able to escape the blaze, he sustained serious burns in the process.
Shipley managed to reach one of his ranch workers, who drove him to a nearby hospital. From there, he was airlifted to a medical facility in Austin, where he remains under care.
Shipley, 40, carved out a career in the NFL after a decorated college run at Texas. Drafted 84th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, he signed a four-year deal worth $2.45 million, including a $757,000 signing bonus. He made an immediate impact in Cincinnati, turning heads in his first preseason game with a 63-yard punt return against the Dallas Cowboys-a flash of the explosiveness that made him a fan favorite in Austin.
But his NFL journey was quickly derailed by injury. In his second season, Shipley tore both his ACL and MCL, a devastating blow that halted his momentum and ultimately changed the trajectory of his professional career.
After struggling to return to form, he was waived by the Bengals. Brief stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars followed, but neither lasted long.
He appeared in six games for the Jaguars in 2012 before being released in 2013, bringing his NFL career to a close.
Though his time in the league was short-lived, Shipley’s legacy in college football-especially in Austin-remains strong. A fan favorite under head coach Mack Brown, Shipley was a dynamic playmaker for the Longhorns from 2004 to 2009. He played in 53 games over his college career, and his senior season in 2009 was nothing short of electric.
In October 2008, he set a school record with 15 receptions in a single game, racking up 168 yards in a win over Oklahoma State. That performance was just one highlight in a remarkable two-year stretch where Shipley posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He earned All-American honors in 2009, the same year Texas captured the Big 12 title and made a run to the national championship game.
Shipley’s combination of route-running precision, reliable hands, and big-play ability made him a nightmare for opposing secondaries and a go-to target in the Longhorns’ high-powered offense. Even after his playing days, he remained a beloved figure in Texas football circles.
As of now, Shipley continues to fight through a critical recovery, and the football community is rallying around him. For those who watched him light up the field on Saturdays in Austin-and even those who caught glimpses of his talent on Sundays-this is a player who left his mark with toughness, heart, and a flair for the big moment.
Now, that same toughness is being tested off the field.
