Free Safety
No. 22
Miami
"Home, sweet home. Free safety is where Burgess Owens resides now, and he likes the living conditions. Cornerback and strong safety were like Holiday Inns as far as Owens was concerned until he found the comforts of free safety ... like a home.
Owens was a No. 1 draft pick in 1973, who will remain etched in Jets' trivia forever as the man who caught O.J. Simpson from behind to save a touchdown. He intercepted three passes last year to lead the Jets, who had only 11 as a team, low in the AFC. Owens has 10 career pass thefts.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, he was an All-America cornerback at Miami (Fla.). Owens majored in biology. His father is a professor of agronomy at Florida A&M."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)
"Burgess found a home at free safety with the Jets after spending three campaigns on the strong side. He was the Jets' Rookie of the Year and a member of the NFL All-Rookie Team for 1973.
Burgess had 160 career tackles at Miami (Florida). He majored in biology."
-1978 Topps No. 121
