Former Chiefs player will receive Carnegie Medal for saving a man in burning truck

Brandon Bair never found glory during his brief time in the NFL, but he did after his playing days ended.

Bair, who was briefly with the Chiefs in 2011, soon will receive a Carnegie Medal, which says it is “North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism.”

It’s fitting that Bair will receive the medal, because he saved a man’s life last year in Idaho.

Here is the description of Bair’s quick-acting efforts, via the Carnegie website:

“Steven W. Jenson, 25, remained pinned and severely injured in the driver’s seat of a semi-truck that, in a May 6, 2021, accident with a train in St. Anthony, Idaho, overturned onto its driver’s side and was propelled about a quarter-mile along the railroad tracks before coming to a stop. As fire burned at the truck’s front end by the front of the train and dark smoke issued, Jenson was unable to free himself. Among those who stopped at the scene, retired NFL defensive end Brandon Bair ... responded, hearing Jensen calling out.

“Entering to his waist through the truck’s broken-out rear windshield, Bair removed Jenson’s seat belt, pushed the steering wheel away from Jenson, and grasped him under the arms. As Jenson used his feet to push off, Bair withdrew from the truck, pulling Jenson with him until he was outside the truck. Bair aided Jenson off the tracks then, with help from another man, moved Jenson farther away as the fire grew to consume the truck. Jenson, who suffered burns to his legs and other injuries, was flown to a hospital and underwent treatment for about three weeks.”

Bair, who was not injured in the life-saving act, was a defensive tackle who signed with the. Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon in July 2011.

At the start of the 2011 season, Bair made the Chiefs’ 53-man roster, but never appeared in a game because of illness and later being inactive. He went to training camp with the Chiefs in 2012 but was released on Aug. 31 and signed later in the year with the Raiders, who kept him on their practice squad for most of the season.

After signing with the Eagles in 2014, Bair appeared in 21 games in two seasons with Philadelphia before his career ended in 2015. He had 1 1/2 career sacks.

The Carnegie Medal is given in the United States and Canada to people “who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others,” its website notes.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission said Bair will receive a financial grant.