Jon Burnett health struggles explored as beloved football star and TV host dies of complications of CTE

Jon Burnett, a former KDKA-TV (CBS News Pittsburgh) employee, passed away at 71.

The CBS News affiliate station reported Burnett’s death on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Per UPMC Cognitive Neurologist Dr. Joseph Malone, Jon Burnett’s might be related to the complications of suspected CTE, KDKA-TV further reported. Last year, in an interview, Jon opened up with his CBS News colleague Kristine Sorensen about his health struggles.

The KDKA-TV anchor and meteorologist struggled with memory loss, among other neurological issues, which led to his retirement in 2019. After struggling for years, Dr. Malone diagnosed Jon Burnett with suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy, aka CTE, after ruling out other possible causes.

Jon Burnett was a football player during his youth and even represented the University of Tennessee as a college athlete. Burnett told CBS News in his interview from February 2024 that he had two major concussions while playing football. Dr Malone, who diagnosed Burnett, told CBS News,

“That history [two major concussions during his football years], coupled with his symptoms, and in addition to the newer diagnostic criteria for this thing called traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, led me to make that diagnosis for him.”

Although the diagnosis was not final while he was still alive, Burnett had expressed his desire to donate his brain for research. He told CBS News,

“If I can help anybody on this road, who is on this road or will be on this road in the years ahead, I feel better about being able to do that.”

While there was no way to confirm whether Burnett had CTE, procedures after his death can provide a conclusive diagnosis, according to CBS News.

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CBS News Pittsburgh, aka KDKA-TV, pays tribute to Jon Burnett after his death

Burnett had a decades-long career working on TV. He joined the Pittsburgh station KDKA-TV in 1982, serving as the new host for the Evening Magazine show. He first co-hosted the show with Liz Miles, who called him “one of the most significant people” of her life after his death.

Burnett was also a co-host of KDKA-TV veteran Mary Robb Jackson, who described him as a “bright light in the world.” Three years after working on the Evening Magazine, Burnett began co-hosting Pittsburgh 2Day in 1985. He served as Patrice King Brown's co-anchor on the show. After Burnett’s death, Brown was quoted saying,

“My TV brother. I will love him forever.”

Following the conclusion of both Evening Magazine and Pittsburgh 2Day, Burnett transitioned into the role of KDKA-TV’s meteorologist. While serving as a weatherman at CBS News Pittsburgh, Jon Burnett also became a part of the team behind Pittsburgh Today Live.

Burnett continued working at the CBS News affiliate channel until 2019. Many of his KDKA News colleagues, like Ron Klink, Stacy Smith, Dennis Bowman, Paul Martino, and more, also shared their words with the Pittsburgh news channel after his demise.

The channel even shared a collection of late news anchors and weathermen’s pictures over the years while writing,

“Beloved former KDKA-TV personality Jon Burnett has died. Remembered as authentic, original, talented and compassionate, he leaves behind an incredible legacy.”

Burnett has left behind his wife, Debbie, son Eric, daughter Samantha, and five grandchildren.