Remembering Jon Burnett
February 20, 2025KDKA-TV (2) reported Thursday of the death of long-time station personality, a man of many hats, Jon Burnett at age 71. Last year viewers learned that Mr. Burnett, who retired in 2019, had been diagnosed with suspected CTE likely from head trauma from many years of playing football.
Jon Burnett was hired at KDKA in 1982 to take over as host of Evening Magazine for Dave Durian who was leaving town for WBAL-TV Baltimore. Later he stepped up as co-host for Pittsburgh 2Day with Patrice King Brown. When those shows ended, he moved over to the weather department where he spent the bulk of his career at KDKA, but he later became co-host of Pittsburgh Today Live with Kristine Sorensen.
The Burnett Family along with Jon, made the decision to participate in research at the National Sports Brain Bank as CTE is presently very difficult to diagnose prior to death. The news story about his diagnosis which aired in early 2024 encouraged many others to sign up to participate as well.
Requiescat in Pacem.