Ron Burton

Ronald E. Burton (July 25, 1936 – September 13, 2003) was an American professional football player who competed as a running back in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots. He first drew notice as a consensus All-American at Northwestern University.

At Northwestern, Burton starred on Ara Parseghian's late-1950s Wildcats teams. He was named all-Big Ten in 1958 and 1959 and earned All-America honors in 1959. He led Northwestern in all-purpose yards in 1957, 1958, and 1959, and left the school holding records for most points in a career (130), most points in a season (76), and most touchdowns in a career (21). He finished tenth in the 1959 Heisman Trophy balloting.

Burton was the Boston Patriots' first-ever AFL draft choice, selected in 1960. He became the first Patriot to rush for more than 100 yards in a game, gaining 127 against the Denver Broncos on October 23, 1960, and recorded numerous other franchise firsts. His 91-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal in 1962 remained a Patriots record.

Burton is a member of the Northwestern Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.