Keith Burns is a former American football player who played as a linebacker and special teams player in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on August 12, 1972, in Riverside, California, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Burns was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Broncos, playing from 1994 to 2004, and then returning for one final season in 2006. During his time with the Broncos, Burns was primarily a special teams player, but he also played as a linebacker and occasionally as a fullback.
Burns was known for his toughness, work ethic, and leadership on the field. He was a key contributor on special teams, where he excelled as a kick and punt coverage player. He was also a valuable backup linebacker, filling in when needed and making important tackles and sacks.
One of the highlights of Burns' career came in Super Bowl XXXII, when the Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers to win their first Super Bowl championship. Burns played a key role in the victory, making several tackles on special teams and helping to limit the Packers' return game.
After retiring from the NFL, Burns went into coaching. He began his coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Broncos in 2007, and then moved on to coach linebackers and special teams for the Washington Redskins from 2008 to 2012. He then returned to the Broncos in 2013, where he served as the team's assistant special teams coach for three seasons.
In 2016, Burns was hired as the special teams coordinator for the Oakland Raiders, where he worked for two seasons. He then joined the Chicago Bears in 2018 as their assistant special teams coach, where he helped the team to a division championship and a playoff appearance in his first season.
Overall, Keith Burns had a successful football career, both as a player and a coach. He was a hardworking and dedicated player who made important contributions to his team on special teams and as a backup linebacker. As a coach, he has continued to excel, helping to develop and improve the special teams units of several NFL teams.
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