Jon Burnett, a treasured weathercaster and television personality who graced CBS Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV for nearly four decades, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at age 71 from complications of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to Dr. Joseph Malone, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cognitive Neurologist.

The station confirmed his death in an Instagram post: “Beloved former KDKA-TV personality Jon Burnett has died. Remembered as authentic, original, talented and compassionate, he leaves behind an incredible legacy.”

Burnett, who retired in 2019 after a 37-year broadcasting career in Pittsburgh, had been battling neurological disorders, including memory loss. He received a diagnosis of suspected CTE, a progressive degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head traumas, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Before launching his broadcasting career, Burnett played defensive end for the University of Tennessee football team, from which he graduated in 1976. During his athletic career, he suffered two major concussions and endured countless head impacts.

In a February 2024 interview with KDKA-TV, Burnett revealed the extent of the physical toll football had taken on his brain. “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,” Burnett said during the interview.

He also disclosed that he had joined the National Sports Brain Bank at the University of Pittsburgh, agreeing to posthumously donate his brain to advance research and treatment of brain disorders and CTE. During the same interview, he recalled having hundreds of collisions throughout his football career, typically hitting other players around 30-40 times each game.

CTE, which can only be definitively diagnosed after death, is most commonly found in athletes who play contact sports, military members, and victims of physical abuse. However, not everyone who experiences repeated concussions develops the condition.

Burnett began his career at KDKA-TV in 1982 as co-host of “Evening Magazine” with Liz Miles and later with Mary Robb Jackson. His Southern charm immediately captivated Pittsburgh viewers. Jackson told KDKA, “There’s something that comes through that screen and you really can’t fool it, and I think Jon was just a natural.” She added, “He was my partner, one of the most significant people in my life.”

Three years after joining “Evening Magazine,” Burnett moved to host “Pittsburgh 2Day.” By the 1990s, he had transitioned to meteorology, where he remained a fixture for nearly three decades until his retirement.

His “Pittsburgh 2Day” co-anchor, Patrice King Brown, expressed her grief to KDKA, saying, “My TV brother. I will love him forever.”

Colleagues remembered Burnett for his spontaneity, emotional transparency, and versatility as a broadcaster. Former KDKA meteorologist Dennis Bowman noted, “When you saw Jon on TV, you would immediately say, ‘That’s a guy I wouldn’t mind having in my living room live and in person.'”

Burnett was known for his adventurous spirit on camera. He tried various activities during broadcasts, including riding roller coasters, skiing, and attempting other daring feats that entertained viewers throughout western Pennsylvania.

In recent years, Burnett’s health had declined significantly. By February 2024, when he revealed his CTE diagnosis, his short-term memory, voice, and mobility had deteriorated to the point where he required assistance from his wife, Debbie.

The Burnett family chose to share Jon’s story to help others understand CTE and its impact, remove the stigma around brain diseases, and contribute to vital research at the University of Pittsburgh. Their advocacy helped raise awareness and increase enrollment in the university’s brain research program.

Despite his diagnosis, Burnett maintained that if he could do it all over again, he still would have played football. His love for the sport never diminished, even as he faced its consequences.

Born Jonathan Haynes Jr. in Knoxville, Tennessee, Burnett attended Bearden High School before playing football at the University of Tennessee. He began his television career in his home state before moving to Pittsburgh in 1982, where he quickly became a household name.

Throughout his 37-year career at KDKA, Burnett seamlessly transitioned between roles as host, anchor, and weatherman, displaying a remarkable versatility that few broadcasters achieve. His authentic on-screen presence and compassionate nature endeared him to colleagues and viewers alike.

Burnett’s legacy extends beyond his television career. His courage in sharing his CTE diagnosis and participating in brain research may help future generations of athletes avoid similar neurological fates.

He is survived by his wife of many years, Debbie, and their adult children, Samantha and Eric.