Former Texas Longhorns Star, NFL Receiver Jordan Shipley Hospitalized After Accident

Shipley is in critical but stable condition after suffering ’severe burns’ in an accident involving machinery that caught fire, according to his family.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jordan Shipley, left, is tackled during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. AP Photo/John Minchillo

Former NFL wide receiver and Texas Longhorns star Jordan Shipley has been hospitalized after sustaining “severe burns” in an accident on his ranch in Texas.

Shipley, 40, was airlifted to a local hospital on Jan. 6 near his hometown of Burnet, Texas, and listed in critical but stable condition following the incident.

John Bianco, senior associate athletics director with the University of Texas at Austin, released a statement on behalf of Shipley’s family confirming the news and asking the public for prayers.

“Jordan was involved in an accident this afternoon near his hometown of Burnet,” the statement posted on X reads.

“The machine he was operating on his ranch caught fire, and although he managed to get out, it was not before sustaining severe burns on his body in the process.”

“He was able to get to one of his workers on the ranch who drove him to a local hospital,” the statement continued. “He was then care-flighted to Austin, where he remains in critical but stable condition.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to the university’s athletics department for further information on the matter, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Shipley earned a name for himself during his college football career, playing as a receiver and a kick returner with the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009.

There, he became all-time leader in receptions with 248 career catches for 3,191 yards and 33 touchdowns.

A two-time All-American, Shipley was only player in school history to catch 80 or more passes in two or more seasons, as well as the only player to catch 10 or more passes in back-to-back games.

Further, he holds the school record for three consecutive games with 10 or more receptions, and is the first player in Texas history to score touchdowns by reception, kickoff, and punt return all in the same season.

Shipley went on to play in the NFL after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals as their third-round draft pick in 2010.

At the time, former Texas head coach Mack Brown praised the Bengals’ decision, highlighting Shipley’s consistency and skill on the field.

“I don’t think he gets the credit for his toughness, his decision-making and his speed that he deserves,” Brown said. “He’s a really good football player and he shows that week after week.”

Shipley also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars over his three-season NFL career, having 79 receptions for 858 yards and four touchdowns across all three teams. He retired from professional football in 2014.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.