Former NFL player Jordan Shipley is in critical condition after an incident at his Texas ranch resulted in “severe” burns.
Shipley’s family confirmed on Tuesday, January 6, that he was injured after a machine he was operating “caught fire.”
“Jordan was involved in an accident this afternoon near his hometown of Burnet,” read a statement released by University of Texas Senior Associate Athletics Director John Bianco, which noted that Shipley was stable after being taken to the hospital.
Shipley, 40, was able to free himself from the machine, but “it was not before sustaining severe burns on his body in the process” that he was able to get medical help. Shipley was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Austin.
“He was able to get to one of his workers on the ranch, who drove him to a local hospital,” the statement continued. “He was then care-flighted to Austin, where he remains in critical but stable condition.”
Jordan’s brother Jaxon Shipley, a former Texas Longhorns receiver, addressed the accident in a separate statement.
“Please pray for full healing and no infections or other issues on his road to recovery,” he wrote via Instagram on Tuesday. “I don’t want to get into all the details, other than his life was spared today by the grace of God and the sheer will to live. I believe prayer is effective so I’m asking anyone and everyone to lift Jordan up in prayer.”
Jordan’s father, Bob Shipley, subsequently shared an update on Tuesday, writing via Facebook that his son required several surgeries. “The biggest threats at this point seem to be infections and pneumonia,” he wrote.
Before his time in the NFL, Jordan was a wide receiver and kick returner for the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010, also playing for Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars before retiring in 2014. He has since spent his time in Texas with his family.
Jordan married wife Sunny Leigh Shipley in 2011. The couple, who share two kids, celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary via Instagram in May 2024.
“We were 13 years old when we met, and today our marriage is 13 years old!! Swipe to see baby Jordan and Sunny 🥹. Some of our dear friends, @samshack10 and @jillshack10, whom we greatly admire, once told us to always make sure we celebrate our anniversary in a big way!” Sunny wrote at the time. “So we have made a point to do that every year, and it’s been something we look forward to! Sam and Jill’s anniversary is also today. 30 years … congrats ya’ll!”
Sunny’s most recent social media post showed the family celebrating Christmas days before Jordan’s accident.
“The memories made in December will last a lifetime!” she wrote. “So thankful for friends, family and a community that we love. Happy New year!”
