| Miami Dolphins | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | (1995-05-01)May 1, 1995 (age 29) Miami, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 187 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Miami Northwestern (Miami, Florida) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Miami (FL) (2013–2015) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2016: 1st round, 25th pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Artie Tyrone Burns Jr. (born May 1, 1995) is an American professionalfootballcornerback for theMiami Dolphins of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theMiami Hurricanes,[1] and was selected by thePittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the2016 NFL draft.
A native of Miami, Burns attendedMiami Northwestern High School, where he played defensive back and was a teammate of formerPittsburgh Steelers teammate wide receiverEli Rogers, Dolphins quarterbackTeddy Bridgewater, and Browns wide receiverAmari Cooper.[2] As a junior, playing safety, Burns made 80tackles, 10 for losses. He also broke up 87 passes, caused 17fumbles, and made 22interceptions.[3] Regarded as a four-star recruit byRivals.com, Burns was listed as the No. 15cornerback prospect in his class.[4]
He committed to Miami, where the Hurricanes hoped to pair him withTracy Howard on the outside.[5][6]
He was an All-USA high schooltrack and field team selection byUSA Today in 2011 and 2012.[7][8] At the 2011 USA Youth outdoor track and field championships, Burns won both the 110-meter hurdles (13.90), and the 400-meter hurdles (52.23). At the 2012 Bob Hayes Invitational, Burns broke records in the 110 hurdles (13.35) and the 300 (36.14), both originally set byMichael Timpson in 1985.[3] His 110 hurdles time was the second-fastest worldwide by ayouth athlete in 2012, behind onlyWilhem Belocian's 13.29 at the2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics inBarcelona. In 2012 Burns had the No. 5 time in the World (No. 1 in USA) in the 110-meter hurdles amongst junior athletes (under 20).[9] In 2014 Burns broke the American junior record in the indoor 60-meter hurdles, breaking a 38-year-old record.
| Defense | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | GP | Tackles | For Loss | Passes Def | Int | FF |
| 2013 | Miami | 9 | 17 | 0.5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 | Miami | 13 | 40 | 2.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | Miami | 12 | 36 | 0.5 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| College Totals | 34 | 93 | 3.0 | 14 | 7 | 1 | |
Coming out of theUniversity of Miami, Burns was projected by analysts to be a first or second round pick. He attended theNFL Combine but was unable to complete all the drills after suffering a knee injury. He stood on his combine numbers at the Miami Hurricane'sPro Day, but chose to redo the vertical and added two inches while completing the other drills he was unable to perform at the combine.[10] He worked out with 12 other Miami Hurricanes in front of representatives from a total of 31 teams, including Steelers' head coachMike Tomlin. Although his Pro Day numbers were hampered by a torrential downpour, he was able to proceed and complete his drills. After his workout, general managers from three teams commented that he is a top cornerback prospect.[11]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Artie Burns' NFL Combine Workout |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft11+7⁄8 in (1.83 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | 33+1⁄4 in (0.84 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.46 s | 1.56 s | 2.63 s | 4.33 s | 6.96 s | 33 in (0.84 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 7 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine and Miami Hurricane'sPro Day[12] | ||||||||||||
ThePittsburgh Steelers selected Burns in the first round with the 25th overall pick in the2016 NFL draft.[13] He was the first cornerback selected by the Steelers in the first round sinceChad Scott was selected 24th overall in1997 NFL draft. On June 8, 2016, the Steelers signed him to a four-year, $9.59 million rookie contract with a $5.17 million signing bonus.[14]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Steelers draft Artie Burns 25th overall | |
| 2017 NFL Draft: Artie Burns' Highlights |
Burns was expected to compete againstRoss Cockrell andSenquez Golson for the role as the second cornerback intraining camp. His development was delayed after suffering a strained quad that limited his participation in training camp and caused him to miss the first three preseason games.[15] He started the season as the third cornerback behind veteransWilliam Gay and Cockrell. SafetySean Davis was designated the startingnickelback for the start of the season. On September 12, 2016, he made his professional debut against theWashington Redskins. On October 16, 2016, Burns made a season-high five solo tackles during a 30–15 loss to theMiami Dolphins. The following game, he made four solo tackles during a loss against theNew England Patriots.[16] Burns was promoted to the starting nickelback position for the sixth game of the season after fellow rookieSean Davis played in the slot for the first five games.
On November 6, 2016, Burns started his first career game against theBaltimore Ravens and intercepted a pass byJoe Flacco in the first quarter.[17] He was named the starter over Gay and his interception was the first of any Steelers defensive back of the season.[18] The following game, Burns recorded six combined tackles in a 35–30 loss to theDallas Cowboys. In a Week 11 matchup with theCleveland Browns, he made three solo tackles and interceptedCody Kessler on the Brown's first drive, helping the Pittsburgh Steelers win 24–9.[19] On December 4, 2016, Burns recorded a season-high six solo tackles and an assisted tackle during a 24–14 win over theNew York Giants. The next game, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated theBuffalo Bills and Burns made three solo tackles and interceptedTyrod Taylor for his third pick of the season. On January 1, 2017, he racked up a season-high eight combined tackles and deflected a pass as the Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns 27–24.[20]
He finished his rookie season with a total of 65 combined tackles, 13pass deflections, and three interceptions in 16 games and nine starts. He also played 810 out of 1,046 defensive snaps.[21] Burns started the last seven games of the season as the Steelers' outside cornerback opposite Cockrell, with veteran Gay covering the slot.[22] On January 8, 2017, Burns started in his first career postseason game and recorded three solo tackles and one assist in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 30–12 AFC Wild Card Round victory over theMiami Dolphins.[23]
Burns was named the starting cornerback to begin the regular season, along with newly acquired free agentJoe Haden. Burns started thePittsburgh Steelers' season-opening 21–18 victory over the Browns and recorded three combined tackles.[20] In Week 2, Burns made three combined tackles, deflected a pass, and recovered a fumble by wide receiverAdam Thielen in the fourth quarter of the 26–9 victory over theMinnesota Vikings.[24] On October 29, 2017, Burns recorded a season-high nine combined tackles as the Steelers defeated theDetroit Lions 20–15. On December 25, 2017, he made two combined tackles, a pass deflection, and made his only interception of the season on a pass attempt byHouston Texans quarterbackTom Savage as the Steelers won 34–6. Burns finished the2017 season with 54 combined tackles (47 solo), 13 pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.[25] Burns received a grade of 70.5 fromPro Football Focus. His grade ranked 44th among all cornerbacks.[26]
In Week 2 against theKansas City Chiefs, Burns recorded his first career safety when he tackledKareem Hunt in the endzone in the 42–37 loss.[27] On December 2, in the final play of a game against theLos Angeles Chargers, Burns jumped offsides three times during Chargers' kickerMichael Badgley's attempt to convert a game-winningfield goal.[28] Overall, Burns played in all 16 games and started six.[29] He recorded 22 total tackles, one pass defensed, and one forced fumble.[30]
On May 1, 2019, the Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Burns's contract, making him a free agent in 2020.[31]
Burns signed with theChicago Bears on March 26, 2020.[32] On August 18, 2020, Burns was carted off the field after suffering atorn ACL and was ruled out for the season.[33] He was placed oninjured reserve two days later.[34]
On March 26, 2021, Burns re-signed with the Bears.[35]
Burns signed with theSeattle Seahawks on March 18, 2022.[36]
On May 22, 2023, Burns re-signed with the Seahawks.[37] He was released on August 30, and re-signed to thepractice squad.[38][39] Burns was signed to the active roster on September 20.[40]
On March 15, 2024, Burns re-signed with the Seahawks.[41] He was released on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[42][43] On October 10, Burns was signed to the active roster, but placed on injured reserve four days later due to a toe injury.[44][45] He was waived by the Seahawks on December 17.[46] Two days later, Seattle re–signed Burns to their practice squad.[47]
On March 17, 2025, Burns signed a one-year contract with theMiami Dolphins.[48]
Burns was born to Artie Tyrone Burns and Dana Smith and was raised in Miami, Florida. On October 24, 2006, his father was arrested inSouth Carolina for trafficking cocaine and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His father's projected release date is May 24, 2027. His mother died from a heart attack at the age of 44 in October 2015. The University of Miami's digital department raised $40,000 through a GoFundMe account for his mother's medical expenses. Burns also has two sons, A.J. and Saint Cairo, with his girlfriend Ella, and has two younger brothers, Jordan and Thomas. In 2017 he became engaged to Ella.
On February 25, 2015, his brother, Thomas Burns, committed to play football for his alma mater, theUniversity of Miami.[49]
On June 29, 2017, Burns was arrested in Miami, Florida, for driving while his license was suspended for failure to pay traffic citations.[50][51]
