Alabama A&M player Medrick Burnett Jr. dies after an injury during the Magic City Classic in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – Medrick Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old Alabama A&M University football player, died Wednesday one month after suffering a serious injury during a football game.

Burnett Jr., a linebacker injured during the Oct. 26 Magic City Classic in Birmingham, was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. 5:43 p.m. Wednesday at UAB Hospital, one month after the Classic, Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Matt Angelo reported Friday.

According to a post written by his sister, Dominece James, on GoFundMeBurnett suffered multiple brain bleeds after a head-on collision during a tackle in the game where Alabama A&M faced Alabama State University at Legion Field. James said that while in the intensive care unit, Burnett underwent a craniotomy to reduce swelling in his brain, adding that it was “a last resort to help try to save his life.”

“Please pray that he is having a hard time, but we are holding out until the end,” James wrote Wednesday in the hours before Burnett died. “God give us strength so that we can keep the faith.”

On Wednesday morning, Alabama A&M mistakenly reported that Burnett had died, but subsequently retracted their statement after confirming that he was still alive and in stable condition at the time. A university official attributed the error to providing false information.

Burnett, a redshirt freshman originally from Lakewood, Calif., had played at Grambling State through the 2023 season before transferring to Alabama A&M. During the season, Burnett had three solo tackles and two assists with Alabama A&M before his death.

No cause of death has been given for Burnett, although tests are pending.