More than five decades after his final game as an Arkansas Razorback, the school's all-time scoring leader — Bill Burnett — has passed away at 78 years old.
The former Arkansas running back was a major part of the Razorbacks' football squad from 1968-1970 under legendary coach Frank Broyles, and his 46 rushing touchdowns remain a school record decades later. As one of the greatest Hogs of all time, Burnett will be sorely missed.
All-Time Scoring Leader Bill Burnett Leaves Behind Historic Razorback Legacy
Bill Burnett, Arkansas' all-time touchdowns leader who later led FCA in the state, died Saturday at the age of 78. https://t.co/6ri1Edmf30 pic.twitter.com/c8FkOvbBhX
— WholeHogSports.com (@wholehogsports) July 5, 2026
Bill Burnett's wife of 56 years, Linda Burnett, announced that her husband passed away on July 4 after an extended battle with severe memory loss. In an official statement, she said:
"I think [CTE] was part of what he was dealing with, along with possibly Alzheimer's [Disease] as well. But I felt on the Fourth of July, he was set free from his body... What better day is there for freedom?"
A Bentonville High School graduate, Bill Burnett wasn't the first person in his immediate family to play football for the Hogs. Burnett's brothers, Bobby and Tommy, played for the Hogs from 1964-1965 and 1965-1966, respectively.
Bill became a major fixture for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the late 1960s, scoring a school-record 49 total touchdowns (46 rushing) before being drafted in the ninth round by the Baltimore Colts. Burnett's nose for the end zone helped him break the school's single-season touchdown record (19) in 1969 — a record that stood for 46 years until the late Alex Collins scored 20 in 2015 — while his 2,320 career rushing yards are still good for 13th all-time at Arkansas. Even more impressively, he never fumbled during his playing career.
Former Arkansas player and coach Ken Hatfield spoke highly of Bill Burnett, stating:
“The one thing you could say about Bill Burnett: he was real. He didn’t let all of his star power... come into play. And he was such a great player and a great touchdown man for the Hogs."
Bill Burnett received various accolades during and after his playing career. During his career, Burnett was a two-time All-Southwest Conference pick, an academic All-American, and a one-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year winner. In 1995, he was inducted into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor, followed by later inductions into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (1996) and Southwest Conference Hall of Fame (2015).
According to previous statements earlier this year, Bill Burnett believed he was dealing with the effects of CTE. He had spent over a year at Fayetteville's Clear Creek Memory Care prior to his passing.
Bill Burnett's death brings an end to the life of an Arkansas Razorbacks legend, but his memory will live on among his family, friends, and the school's fans. Burnett's career touchdown record is nearly untouchable in the modern era, and his contributions as a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) made an impact across the state.
For generations of Razorback supporters, Burnett represented what a great Hog could be: productive, dependable, and deeply connected to Arkansas. The Hogs may have lost one of their all-time greats, but Bill Burnett will always have a place in Arkansas football history.
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