Jon Brittenum
No. 15
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1944-05-27)May 27, 1944
Brinkley, Arkansas, U.S.
Died:October 13, 2022(2022-10-13) (aged 78)
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Brinkley (AR)
College:Arkansas
Undrafted:1967
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Jon Roger Brittenum (May 27, 1944 – October 13, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for the San Diego Chargers in the American Football League (AFL) for one season in 1968. He earlier played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks.[1]

Early life

Brittenum was born in Brinkley, Arkansas, on May 27, 1944.[2] He attended Brinkley High School in his hometown. He then studied at the University of Arkansas,[2] where he played for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1963 to 1966 (with 1964 being his redshirt year).[3][4] He was the starting quarterback during his junior and senior seasons and was named an All-Southwest Conference in both years.[4] He left the 1966 Cotton Bowl Classic early with a separated shoulder that ultimately ended with the Razorbacks losing 14–7 to the LSU Tigers, ending the school's streak of 22 consecutive victories.[4][5]

Professional career

Brittenum was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the eighth round (64th overall) of the 1966 AFL Redshirt draft.[2][6] He only featured on the team's practice squad,[4] and was subsequently traded to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for its third-round pick in the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.[7]

Brittenum made his AFL debut with the Chargers on September 6, 1968, at the age of 24, in a 29–13 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.[8] In a game on December 8 that same year, he replaced John Hadl – who completed just 9 of 25 passes and had six interceptions made off him – in the fourth quarter, but was promptly tackled in his own end zone by Buck Buchanan for a safety.[9][10] The Chargers ultimately lost that game 40–3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, eliminating them from AFL Western Division contention.[9][10] In his 14 games in the AFL, Brittenum scored one touchdown, completed 9 of 17 passes, and registered 125 passing yards and −4 rushing yards.[2]

Later life

After retiring from professional football, Brittenum managed Brittenum & Associates, an investment banking firm based in Little Rock, Arkansas.[11] Both the company and Brittenum filed for bankruptcy in 1986.[11] He was subsequently charged with misappropriating his investors' money, with 15 savings and loan associations claiming $30.6 million against his company.[12] Brittenum faced a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, but was handed a five-year suspended sentence, 100 hours of community service, and restitution to four of his clients for $4 million.[11][13]

Brittenum was selected for his alma mater's Sports Hall of Honor in 2020 and inducted the following year.[4][14] He was also named to the school's All-Decade team for the 1960s. He died on October 13, 2022, in South Texas. He was 78, and suffered from ill health in the years prior to his death.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Jenkins, Dan. "Arkansas on Top of the World". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Jon Brittenum Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Jon Brittenum College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Murphy, Tom (October 14, 2022). "Arkansas greats Brittenum, Norton die". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Arkansas Upset by L.S.U., 14 to 7; LaBruzzo Scores Twice in Cotton Bowl Defeat Ends Streak at 22". The New York Times. January 2, 1966. p. H147. ProQuest 117144866. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  6. ↑ Habib, Hal (April 20, 2021). "Your guide to NFL Draft: From history of Dolphins' picks to TV and party info, it's all here". Tribune Content Agency. ProQuest 2515150384. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  7. ↑ Habib, Hal (April 19, 2017). "The Daily Dolphin – Vote: Pick the Miami Dolphins' best NFL draft class ever". Tribune Content Agency. ProQuest 1889541495. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ "Jon Brittenum 1968 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Chiefs Oust Chargers, 40–3, and Stay Tied for Lead as Raiders Win, 33–27: 7 Interceptions Stymie San Diego". The New York Times. December 9, 1968. p. 66. ProQuest 118309526. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  10. 1 2 "December 8, 1968 Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 8, 1968. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 Waldon, George (November 29, 2010). "Foreshadowing Encounters". Arkansas Business. Vol. 27, no. 47. p. 13. ProQuest 818414883. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  12. ↑ Cauchon, Dennis (February 14, 1989). "Where the Money Went". USA Today. McLean, Virginia. p. 4B. ProQuest 306197612. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  13. ↑ "Arkansas". USA Today. McLean, Virginia. July 7, 1989. p. 8A. ProQuest 306231986. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  14. ↑ "Six selected for UA Sports Hall of Honor". The Baxter Bulletin. Mountain Home, Arkansas. August 29, 2020. p. B1. ProQuest 2438173036. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via ProQuest.
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