Ranch Accident Leaves Former NFL Player in Critical Condition
A former college football standout and NFL player has been hospitalized after a serious accident at his ranch in Texas.
Officials say former wide receiver Jordan Shipley suffered "severe burns" to 20% of his body and is now in "critical but stable condition" at a hospital in Austin. Shipley was hospitalized after being injured near his hometown of Burnet, Texas.
"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," Shipley's family said in a statement issued through the University of Texas.
"He was able to get to one of his workers on the ranch who drove him to a local hospital."
Statement from the family of Jordan Shipley:
— John Bianco (@UT_Bianco) January 7, 2026
The family hopes that everyone will keep Jordan in their prayers ???????? pic.twitter.com/ybZmqDotc5
Shipley's Star-Making Performance at Texas
The 40-year-old Shipley is likely best known for his career at Texas, where he helped the Longhorns reach the national championship game with teammate, college roommate and standout quarterback Colt McCoy.
Shipley caught 248 passes for 3,191 yards in his four seasons at Texas, including a Big 12-best 116 receptions in 2009. He is still Texas' all-time leading receiver when it comes to receptions, and ranks second in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Shipley was a two-time All-American at Texas, excelling as both a wide receiver and return specialist. His 116 receptions and 1,489 receiving yards in 2009 remain Texas single-season records, putting Shipley among some of the greatest pass catchers in the history of the storied program.
He even won a national championship as a medical redshirt, as he was on the roster for the Longhorns' epic win over USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl. Shipley and McCoy's younger brothers Jaxon and Case also went on to play for Texas after their time with the Longhorns.
Shipley's younger brother Jaxon and his cousin Braden are also baseball standouts, spending time with the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Royals, respectively.
Shipley's NFL Career After Texas Stardom
After a stellar college career with the Longhorns, Shipley was selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played two seasons with Cincinnati, but a serious knee injury derailed his tenure with the team.
Shipley also appeared for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars before retiring from football in 2014. He spent time on the Longhorn Network as a Texas football analyst, and also made other television appearances on the Outdoor Channel.
The Longhorns failed to qualify for this season's College Football Playoff, but they were able to end their season on a high note with a big win over Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, taking down the Wolverines 41-27 on New Year's Eve.