Brian Burns

In six seasons in Carolina and the Giants, Burns has played in 97 regular-season games with 84 starts…Totals include 316 tackles (191 solo), 54.5 sacks, 113 quarterback hits, 76 tackles for loss, 21 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries, including 1 he returned for a touchdown.

HONORS

• Pro Bowl: 2021, 2022
• NFC Defensive Player of the Week: 2020 Week 11, 2022 Week 12

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• In six seasons in Carolina and the Giants, Burns has played in 97 regular-season games with 84 starts…Totals include 316 tackles (191 solo), 54.5 sacks, 113 quarterback hits, 76 tackles for loss, 21 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries, including 1 he returned for a touchdown.

• In 2024, started all 17 games…Led the team with 17 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback hits and finished 2nd with 8.5 sacks and 8 passes defensed…Totaled 71 tackles (42 solo), and 2 forced fumbles…His 8.5 sacks tied Olivier Vernon (2016) for the 2nd-highest total in a player's first season with the Giants, behind only Markus Golden (10.0 in 2019).
• Recorded 3 tackles (2 solo), 1.0 sack, 2 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble at Cleveland (9/22/24)…Became the 3rd Giant to record at least 2 passes defensed, 1.0 sack and 1 forced fumble in a game, joining Terrell Thomas (2010) and Brent Alexander (2004).
• In 2023, started all 16 games in which he played…Inactive with a concussion at Chicago (11/9/23)…Tallied 50 tackles (32 solo), 8.0 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.
• In 2022, started the first 16 games at defensive end before missing the season finale with an ankle injury…Selected to his second straight Pro Bowl…Registered a career-high 12.5 sacks…Ranked 4th on the team and 10th among NFL defensive linemen with a career-best 63 tackles (34 solo)...Led the team and finished tied for 3rd in the league with 17 tackles for loss...Named Week 12 NFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 2.0 sacks, including a strip sack, and a tackle for loss vs. Denver.
• In 2021, played in all 17 games with 16 starts…Named a Pro Bowl starter... Posted 51 tackles (31 solo)…Recorded 9.0 sacks for the second straight season…Led the team and tied for 5th in the NFC with 13 in tackles for loss.
• In 2020, played in 15 games with 14 starts…Led the Panthers with 9.0 sacks and a career-high 3 forced fumbles...Made 58 tackles (35 solo), 21 quarterback hits…Named Week 11 NFC Defensive Player of the Week after twice sacking Matthew Stafford – his first career multi-sack game - vs. Detroit (11/22/20).
• As a rookie in 2019, played in all 16 games with five starts in 2019 season...Posted 7.5 sacks to go with 23 tackles (17 solo), 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery return for a touchdown…Recovered a fumble by Gardner Minshew, who was sacked by Mario Addison, and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown vs. Jacksonville (10/6).

NOTES TO KNOW

• Became the 8th player in NFL history with 7.5-plus sacks in each of their first 6 seasons to begin their career, joining Hall of Famers Reggie White, Derrick Thomas, Jared Allen, as well as DeMarcus Ware, Ryan Kerrigan, Aaron Donald and Yannick Ngakoue.
• Burns and Myles Garrett are the only NFL players with at least 7.5 sacks in each season from 2019-24.
• Burns' 54.5 sacks are tied for the 8th-highest total in the NFL since he entered the league in 2019 and place him 3rd among players in the 2019 draft class, behind San Francisco's Nick Bosa (62.5) and Las Vegas' Maxx Crosby (59.5).
• Burns also owns 76 tackles for loss since entering the league in 2019, which is the 6th-most among all defenders.
• His 46.0 sacks as a member of the Panthers place him 5th in franchise history.

COLLEGE

• Played in 38 games with 25 starts for Florida State and recorded 124 tackles, including 39.5 for loss, with 24.0 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 7 pass breakups, 3 blocked kicks, and 2 fumble recoveries.
• In 2018, produced 52 tackles, including 15.5 for loss with 10.0 sacks, 8 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery...Ranked first in the ACC and 8th in the NCAA with 0.83 sacks per game, while leading the ACC in tackles for loss.
• In 2017, recorded 48 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 blocked punts, tying for first in the conference.
• In 2016, earned Freshman All-American honors from a number of publications after he led all NCAA freshmen with 9.5 sacks, the most by an FSU freshman since 1977.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY

• Participated in the Built Ford Tough Field Day at the Quest Diagnostic Training Center for the 10 high school girls flag football champions from leagues supported by the Giants… Participated in MetLife Pet Insurance campaign to raise awareness for rescue animals and highlight the importance of pet insurance… Represented Route #53 Dawg Rescue Foundation during Week 13 of the NFL season for My Cause My Cleats… After the team practice in Germany prior to the Sunday game, met with the 120 students that participated in the NFL Flag clinic… Met with members from the Wounded Warriors Project during their visit to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center to watch practice and enjoy a day with the Giants.

PERSONAL

• Attended American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL...Played in the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, tallying 2 tackles and a pass breakup.
• In 2015, named the Sun-Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year and grabbed Class 5A first-team all-state honors in 2015…Recorded 135 tackles and 28 sacks over his junior and senior seasons…Helped American Heritage win state titles in 2013 and 2014.
• Brother, Stanley McClover, was drafted by Carolina in 2006.

MAIN TRANSACTIONS

• Originally a 1st-round (16^th pick overall) draft choice by the Carolina Panthers in 2019.
• Traded to the Giants for a 2024 2nd-round draft choice, a 2025 5th-round choice, and a swap of 2024 5th-rounders on 3/13/24.