Sec Form 4 Filing - WHITWORTH RALPH V @ SPRINT NEXTEL CORP - 2008-05-13

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person WHITWORTH RALPH V 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol SPRINT NEXTEL CORP [ S] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 6200 SPRINT PARKWAY 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 05/13/2008 (Street) OVERLAND PARK, KS66251 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 05/13/2008( 1 ) A 14,815 ( 2 ) A $ 0 ( 1 ) 17,041 ( 3 ) D Common Stock 53,076,834 ( 4 ) ( 5 ) I Through Limited Partnerships and Accounts Managed by Reporting Person

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other WHITWORTH RALPH V 6200 SPRINT PARKWAY OVERLAND PARK, KS66251 X Signatures /s/ Timothy P. O'Grady Attorney-in-Fact 05/15/2008 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )These share units are issued under Sprint Nextel's 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Each unit represents the right to receive one share of the underlying security at a date in the future. ( 2 )These restricted stock units vest 100% on the date of the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. ( 3 )Includes 14,815 restricted stock units, which are subject to forfeiture until they vest. ( 4 )The reporting person is a Principal of Relational Investors, LLC (RILLC). RILLC is the record holder of 100 shares and is the sole general partner of Relational Investors, L.P., Relational Fund Partners, L.P., Relational Coast Partners, L.P., Relational Partners, L.P., RH Fund 1, L.P., RH Fund 2, L.P., RH Fund 4, L.P., RH Fund 6, L.P., RH Fund 7, L.P., Relational Investors VIII, L.P., Relational Investors IX, L.P., Relational Investors XI, L.P., Relational Investors XV, L.P., Relational Investors XVI, L.P., Relational Investors XXII, L.P. and the sole managing member of Relational Asset Management LLC and Relational Investors X GP LLC, which serve as the sole general partners of Relational Investors III, L.P. and Relational Investors X, L.P., respectively. ( 5 )These Limited Partnerships own a total of 46,691,732 shares. An additional 6,385,002 shares are held in accounts managed by Relational Investors, LLC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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