Hank Burnine

Harold Henry "Hank" Burnine was an American professional football end who played two seasons in the National Football League with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected by the Giants in the twelfth round of the 1955 NFL draft after playing college football at the University of Missouri.

Early life

Harold Henry Burnine was born on November 9, 1932, in Henrietta, Missouri. He attended Richmond High School in Richmond, Missouri.

College career

Burnine played for the Missouri [Tigers football|Missouri Tigers] from 1953 to 1955. He led the NCAA in receptions with 44 and in receiving yards with 594 his senior year in 1955 while also earning All-American honors. He recorded career totals of 75 receptions for 1,145 yards. Burnine was team captain his senior season and also played in the Blue–Gray Football Classic and Senior Bowl. He won two track letters for the Tigers as a broad jumper. He was inducted into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.

Professional career

Burnine was selected by the New York Giants with the 140th pick in the 1955 NFL draft. He played in one game for the Giants during the 1956 season.
Burnine played in fourteen games, starting seven, for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1956 to 1957.

Personal life

Burnine was also a sergeant in the United States Army. He started selling life insurance during the college football offseason.
He died on January 21, 2020, in Higginsville, Missouri at age 87.