Vern Burke (born April 30, 1941) played tight end and receiver with Terry Baker at Oregon State and then played professionally for three teams in the National Football League.
Burke grew up in Bakersfield, CA., where he attracted the attention of Oregon State coach Tommy Prothro. After two junior college seasons, Burke arrived in Corvallis for the 1962 season, just in time for the magical 9-2 run that ended with a Liberty Bowl victory in Philadelphia. Terry Baker won the Heisman Trophy and Burke caught 69 of his passes for 1,007 yards, both collegiate records at the time. Burke won his own All-America honor. He also set an OSU record with 12 catches in one game.
In 1963, Burke caught 48 more passes and was chosen for the East-West and Hula Bowl all-star game and won the Voit Trophy given to the top player on the Pacific Coast.
Vern entered the NFL, selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 1963 draft. He played one season each for the 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints before retiring at age 27. H went into real estate in Houston.
Burke is a member of the Oregon State Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kern County (CA) Sports Hall of Fame.