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Brian Burns named to 2025 PFWA All-NFL Team

BURNS-ALL-NFL-PFWA

Brian Burns has been named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL Team for the first time in his career following one of the greatest defensive seasons in recent Giants history.

The outside linebacker was recently named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and was voted to his third career Pro Bowl, first with the Giants. Burns also made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022 as a member of the Carolina Panthers. This was his first time picking up All-Pro honors.

In his seventh NFL season, Burns set career highs in sacks (16.5), quarterback hits (31), tackles for loss (22), and forced fumbles (tied with three) while starting all 17 games for his second consecutive season with the Giants.

Burns' 16.5 sacks are tied with Jason Pierre-Paul (2011) for fourth-most in a single season by a Giants defender. His 31 quarterback hits, meanwhile, are the most by any Giant since the statistic started being tracked in 2006.

Most sacks by a Giants player, single season:

Player Sacks Year
1. Michael Strahan 22.5 2001
2. Lawrence Taylor 20.5 1986
3. Michael Strahan 18.5 2003
4t. Jason Pierre-Paul 16.5 2011
4t. Brian Burns 16.5 2025
6t. Leonard Marshall 15.5 1985
6t. Lawrence Taylor 15.5 1988
8t. Michael Strahan 15 1998
8t. Lawrence Taylor 15 1989
10. Osi Umenyiora 14.5 2005

Burns, voted a team captain this season, led the NFC in sacks and was second in the NFL to only Cleveland's Myles Garrett, who set the all-time sack record (23.0) in the final game of the regular season. The previous NFL mark of 22.5 was held jointly by Giants legend Michael Strahan (2001) and Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt (22.5).

Burns is one of eight players ever to record at least 7.5 sacks in each of his first seven seasons. The others are Reggie White, Derrick Thomas, DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Aaron Donald, Ryan Kerrigan, and Yannick Ngakoue.

Burns spent his first five seasons in Carolina, where he was drafted 16th overall in 2019. Since then, he is fifth in the NFL with 71 sacks.

Most sacks in the NFL since 2019:

Player Sacks Team(s)
1. Myles Garrett 105 CLE
2. T.J. Watt 95 PIT
3. Trey Hendrickson 79 NO, CIN
4. Danielle Hunter 74.5 MIN, HOU
5. Brian Burns 71 CAR, NYG

See who led the Giants in sacks each season since it became an official statistic in 1982.

2025 PFWA All-NFL Team

Offense

Quarterback - Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Running Back – James Cook, Buffalo Bills; Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Wide Receiver – Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

Tight End – Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Center – Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs

Guard – Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos; Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears

Tackle – Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos; Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

Defense

Defensive End – Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Defensive Tackle – Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans; Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks

Outside Linebacker – Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos; Brian Burns, New York Giants

Middle Linebacker – Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions

Cornerback – Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles; Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans

Safety – Kevin Byard III, Chicago Bears; Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

Special Teams

Place Kicker – Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys

Punter – Jordan Stout, Baltimore Ravens

Kick Returner – Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

Punt Returner – Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans

Special Teams – Devon Key, Denver Broncos

View photos of the all-time history of New York Giants in the Pro Bowl.

Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 3.36.49 PM

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