Brian Burns Reflects on How Adversity Strengthened His Resolve

Edge rusher Brian Burns looks forward to hitting the ground running with the Giants.

Sometimes, one has to endure adversity to grow into a productive leader.

Take the case of edge rusher Brian Burns, whom the New York Giants acquired via a trade with the Carolina Panthers that became official on Wednesday. Burns, the Panthers' first-round pick in 2019, endured five straight losing seasons in Carolina, including last year's 2-15 mark, the worst of Burns's tenure.

Over that period, he also had five different head coaches, which meant different defensive coordinators. And if that wasn't enough to deal with, last season, the man nicknamed "Spida" for his fandom of the Marvel comics action hero Spider-Man also dealt with a left elbow injury over a six-game stretch in which he was limited to just the left side of the defense, neutralizing his pass rush.

But Burns overcame all the adversity he has dealt with since being picked 16th overall in the 2019 draft (one spot ahead of new teammate Dexter Lawrence) out of Florida State, and he believes he's grown as a competitor.

"I want to put that in the rearview (mirror) as soon as possible," he said of his recent adversity. "But I honestly would say that I feel like it definitely prepared me for what's coming in the future. Going through seasons as such was tough, but it kind of teaches you resilience. It kind of teaches you not to give up. It kind of just shows your character. So, I feel like throughout that process, I've grown."

Make no mistake, though; Burns believes he's far from being a finished product and is excited to have the opportunity to learn from Lawrence, inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, who will be one of his main partners in crime on the passes rush.

"Just looking across the defense, I see a lot of talent, and I feel like definitely, through the time that we have to grow that bond and that camaraderie, I feel like we can definitely grow together," Burns said.

"We can make each other better. I've had a similar experience in Carolina. There were some young guys I was with for three or four years, and we got so tight. I think that we can do that here, with all of us being young and talented."

Dec 31, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers offensive linebacker Brian Burns (0) against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at EverBank Stadium.   / Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

Burns is particularly looking forward to exchanging tricks of the trade with Thibodeaux, who, back in the day, he hosted for a recruiting event.

"He can burn the edge, but I do know that he's a little more prone to getting into that long arm, that power a little bit more," Burns said when asked how he and Thibodeaux differ skill-set-wise.

"I definitely think we could complement each other more in practice because I feel like he could teach me some things, I could teach him some things, and we could bounce ideas off of each other. That's really how pass rushers come up with a lot of their moves and their plans for that week. I think that will be the main thing is the IQ."

And hey, if it results in a little friendly competition for the team sack lead, Burns is fine with that.

"I think it will be healthy competition," he said. "We're definitely going to push each other because he's very talented, as well am I. But it's all fun and games. I think we're going to make each other a lot better, honestly."

Outside of the defense, Burns, one of eight players ever to record at least 7.5 sacks in each of his first five seasons, is ready to get to work and give the Giants their money's worth.

"They're getting somebody who's coming to work, always being professional, always being a pro—that's number one. Other than that, I'm coming to work; I'm relentless. They're getting a playmaker. They're just getting a guy who's really going to enjoy the process, take it day by day," he said when asked for a self-scouting report.

"I really take a lot of pride in getting better. I feel like I can learn from a lot of cats, especially on this team. Other than that, I'm a team guy; I've always been a team guy. I'm a natural leader. I'm just ready to get to work and ready to get with these guys." 

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