Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess ready to tackle life and teaching

​        Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess with the Upper Iowa University Peacocks gains extra yards in a game against McKendree University at Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette on Saturday, Nov. 1.

​By J.O. Parker
 
         Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess is tackling a new chapter in life.
        After capping off a four-year football career at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Burgess, 22, is gaining real-life student teaching experience in Ms. Carrie Lowry’s first grade classroom at Lynnville-Sully.
         “I’m starting to teach math, reading, writing, social studies and science,” he said.
         When asked about his time at UIU, Burgess said the relationships he built there will last a lifetime.
      “That place has really been special to me,” said Burgess. “I don’t have any regrets attending UIU and playing football.”
         Burgess was recruited to UIU by Tim Morrison, a Montezuma graduate and former coach at UIU.
      Morrison has since been named as offensive coordinator at the University of South Dakota, after spending two seasons as the tight ends coach at UIU.
        Throughout his football career, Burgess has been a difference maker for the Peacocks.
       At the close of his senior campaign, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) named Burgess to the All-American Second Team. He joins Alex Wahl (2015) as the only Peacocks to be named on an AFCA All-American Team.
       During the 2025 season, Burgess finished the season with 641 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He started all 12 games for the Peacocks. Before the bowl game, Burgess had recorded the fifth-most receiving yards by any tight end in the country. He also earned All-GLVC First Team accolades for the second time in his career.        
       The Montezuma native has put up 1,681 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career. His 641 yards this season were the most for him in a single season. Burgess ranks 15th all-time in program history in career receiving yards and is tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns.
       Burgess helped the Peacocks win their first bowl game in program history at the Albanese Candy Bowl. Upper Iowa won nine games for its most in a single season. 
        “We are pretty proud of the work this kid put in and look forward to watching him become a teacher in the future,” said his dad, Tim Burgess.
        “Our entire family has enjoyed watching Eddie grow into a hardworking, driven young man,” noted his mom, Janel. “He will make a great teacher someday and all his students will be blessed to have him impact them all. He has learned so much through his experience at Upper Iowa, which will help him so much as he heads into his next chapter of life.”
         In addition to his AFCA honor, Burgess, along with Upper Iowa’s Connor Andresen earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American Second Team selections. They are the first Peacocks football players to earn the honor since Nate Skare in 2018.
         Burgess is quick to point out that his success wouldn’t have happened without the support of his family.    His grandparents on his dad’s side, who live in Michigan, attended many of his high school football and basketball games and his college football games.
         “They only missed one game during my college career,” said Burgess.
       And his grandparents on his mom’s side, who live near Millersburg, have also been strong supporters, attending not only his high school games, but his college games.
        “Montezuma is a special place to me,” said Burgess. “I have met some amazing people along the way who have helped guide me and shape me into the man I am today.”
      “College football is a different beast,” added Burgess. “It is an opportunity that I will always be grateful for.”
      As for the future, Burgess hopes to teach and coach at the high school level and just positively impact student’s lives.
       “That is the end goal, to make a difference,” he said.