Northwestern Wildcats Burton was a star on
Ara Parseghian's late 1950s
Northwestern Wildcats football teams. Named all-Big Ten in 1958 and 1959, and All-America in 1959, Burton left Northwestern having broken school records for most points in a career (130), most points in a season (76), most touchdowns in a career (21). Burton led Northwestern in all-purpose yards in 1957, 1958, and 1959. Burton finished 10th in the 1959
Heisman Trophy balloting.
Boston Patriots Burton was the
Boston Patriots' first-ever
American Football League draft choice in
1960. He was the first Patriot to rush for over 100 yards: 127 against the
Denver Broncos on October 23,
1960, as well as numerous other firsts for the Patriots. His 91-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal in
1962 remains a Patriot record. He compiled 1,009 combined yards in rushing and receiving in 1962, and provided strong depth at running back for the Patriots from
1960 through
1965. Statistics: Ron Burton Sr. New England (Boston) Patriots 1960–1965 All-Time Leader in Punt Returns(Based on return yardage)Years: 1960-’65 NO: 56 FC: 0 YDS: 389AVG: 6.9 LG 62 TD: 0 Year-by-Year Leader in Punt Returns Year: 1965 NO: 15 YDS: 61 AVG: 4.1 LG 12 TD: 0 Year-by-Year Leader in Rushing Year: 1962 ATT: 134 YDS: 548 AVG: 4.0 LG: 59 TD: 2 ==Personal life==