Latest news with #VontazeBurfict
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Outrage as notoriously 'dirty' Vontaze Burfict gets job with UNLV
Former Cincinnati Bengals star Vontaze Burfict's has agreed to become an assistant coach with the Running Rebels. The 'defensive analyst' position is his first coaching job since his last NFL game with the Oakland Raiders in 2019. Burfict has not officially retired from the NFL, but he sustained several significant concussions and other injuries over seven impactful seasons, so a return to the pros is unlikely. He will be working under UNLV head coach Dan Mullen and interim defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who previously coached Burfict with the Bengals and Raiders. Reaction to the news was somewhat divided, given Burfict's reputation for dirty play. Many congratulated him on his first NCAA job, while others were quick to remember his late hits, personal fouls, fines, and suspensions. 'Take the over on UNLV personal fouls in 2025, y'all,' CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli wrote on X. 'Nice,' one fan began, 'he can teach them the fine art of head hunting.' Others were fairly blunt. 'If anyone should not be teaching young men how to play football, it's Vontaze Burfict,' one fan wrote. The LA native famously knocked out Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown during a playoff game, leading to a three-game suspension at the start of the 2016 season. 'That's pathetic,' Steelers offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert said at the time. 'The NFL has to do something about that. 'A guy like that, going out there intentionally trying to hurt people, there's no need for that kind of playing in this league. It's sad. One of these days he'll grow up.' Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recalled Burfict threatening another Steelers player after injuring Brown. 'He hits [Brown], then, literally, as I am under center for the next play, he points at [JuJu Smith-Schuster] and says, 'You're next.'' Even Bengals receiver A.J. Green admitted the hit was 'dirty' the following season. 'We already play a dangerous sport,' Brown said in 2017. 'We all put our lives on the line when we come out here every week, and you don't want anything like that to happen to a player, no matter what team you play for or how big the rivalry is. We have to protect each other.' And Burfict wasn't finished. After signing with the Raiders in 2019, he was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle, leading to Burfict's ejection. He was suspended for the remainder of the 2019 season the following day, with NFL vice president of football operations and chief disciplinarian officer Jon Runyan citing Burfict's history of violations. 'You have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designated to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk,' read Runyan's letter to Burfict.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NFL fans say the same thing as notoriously dirty ex-Bengals star Vontaze Burfict gets job with UNLV
Vontaze Burfict's NFL rivals, and even the occasional teammate, have called the infamous former linebacker 'dirty' at one time or another. UNLV football players will call him 'Coach Burfict.' Still just 34, but five years removed from his own controversial NFL career, the former Cincinnati Bengals star has agreed to become an assistant coach with the Running Rebels. The 'defensive analyst' position is his first coaching job since his last NFL game with the Oakland Raiders in 2019. Burfict has not officially retired from the NFL, but he sustained several significant concussions and other injuries over seven impactful seasons, so a return to the pros is unlikely. He will be working under UNLV head coach Dan Mullen and interim defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who previously coached Burfict with the Bengals and Raiders. Reaction to the news was somewhat divided, given Burfict's reputation for dirty play. Many congratulated him on his first NCAA job, while others were quick to remember his late hits, personal fouls, fines and suspensions. In fact, many football devotees were inspired to make the same joke. 'Take the over on UNLV personal fouls in 2025, y'all,' CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli wrote on X. 'Nice,' one fan began, 'he can teach them the fine art of head hunting.' Others were fairly blunt. 'If anyone should not be teaching young men how to play football, it's Vontaze Burfict,' one fan wrote. Of course, Burfict's reputation didn't come about by accident. The Los Angeles native infamously knocked out Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown during a playoff game, leading to a three-game suspension at the start of the 2016 season. 'That's pathetic,' Steelers offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert said at the time. 'The NFL has to do something about that. A guy like that, going out there intentionally trying to hurt people, there's no need for that kind of playing in this league. It's sad. One of these days he'll grow up.' Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recalled Burfict threatening another Steelers player after injuring Brown. 'He hits [Brown], then, literally, as I am under center for the next play, he points at [JuJu Smith-Schuster] and says, 'You're next.'' Even Bengals receiver A.J. Green admitted the hit was 'dirty' the following season. 'We already play a dangerous sport,' Brown said in 2017. 'We all put our lives on the line when we come out here every week, and you don't want anything like that to happen to a player, no matter what team you play for or how big the rivalry is. We have to protect each other.' And Burfict wasn't finished. After signing with the Raiders in 2019, he was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle, leading to Burfict's ejection. He was suspended for the remainder of the 2019 season the following day, with NFL vice president of football operations and chief disciplinarian officer Jon Runyan citing Burfict's history of violations. 'You have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designated to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk,' read Runyan's letter to Burfict.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former NFL LB Vontaze Burfict hired by UNLV football as defensive analyst
It appears former NFL linebacker Vontaze Burfict has joined first-year coach Dan Mullen's staff at UNLV. Burfict is listed as a defensive analyst for the Rebels, which is his first coaching job since retiring from playing after the 2019 season. UNLV's interim defensive coordinator is Paul Guenther, who was once Burfict's linebackers coach and defensive coordinator during a shared tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals. REQUIRED READING: Former Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict says he only hit late against Steelers Guenther was also the defensive coordinator for the Raiders in 2019, which was Burfict's last NFL season. Burfict's hire is an interesting one, considering his profile from his playing career. The former undrafted signee was suspended 22 total games in his NFL career from 14 separate incidents, being fined a total of $5.3 million over eight seasons, according to The majority of his infractions came on player safety rules. Burfict received the longest on-field suspension in NFL history with the Raiders in 2019, missing 12 games after being called for a personal foul on former Colts tight end Jack Doyle. Burfict led with his helmet after Doyle was already on the ground. Burfict also infamously blindsided then-Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown over the middle of the field in the 2015 wild card round, putting the Steelers in field goal range and allowing them to kick a game-winning field goal. Brown was knocked unconscious on the hit. Burfict was suspended for three games to start the 2016 season for repeated violations of player safety rules. Burfict no doubt is one of the most talented linebackers in recent memory, however, as he was a five-star recruit tabbed as the No. 11 player nationally in the 2009 recruiting class, per 247Sports. He was expected to be a first-round pick after starring at Arizona State, although fell to undrafted after a disappointing NFL combine showing and character concerns. Burfict finished his NFL career with 77 starts in 79 games, record a career-high and NFL-high 171 total tackles in 2013. Burfict was a second-team All-Pro in 2013, and was also selected to his lone Pro Bowl that season. Burfict has been out of football since 2019, but Mullen and UNLV see something in the former linebacker.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vontaze Burfict joins UNLV staff as defensive analyst
Vontaze Burfict is getting back in the game, albeit at the college level. Via Justin Williams of Burfict has joined UNLV's staff as a defensive analyst. Burfict is working under interim defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who was Burfict's longtime linebackers position coach and coordinator with the Bengals. Burfict also played under Guenther with the Raiders in 2019. That was the last season of Burfict's career, as he was suspended after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Colts tight end Jack Doyle in the Raiders' fourth game of the season. While Burfict was reinstated at the end of the season, he went unsigned in free agency. Burfict received his 12-game suspension for repeated violations of player safety, including personal fouls and illegal hits. According to Sportrac, Burfict had lost $5.3 million due to fines and suspensions from 2013-2019. Burfict entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State. He appeared in 79 games with 77 starts over the course of his career, making one Pro Bowl in 2013.
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Vontaze Burfict joins UNLV staff as defensive analyst
Vontaze Burfict is getting back in the game, albeit at the college level. Via Justin Williams of Burfict has joined UNLV's staff as a defensive analyst. Burfict is working under interim defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who was Burfict's longtime linebackers position coach and coordinator with the Bengals. Burfict also played under Guenther with the Raiders in 2019. That was the last season of Burfict's career, as he was suspended after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Colts tight end Jack Doyle in the Raiders' fourth game of the season. While Burfict was reinstated at the end of the season, he went unsigned in free agency. Burfict received his 12-game suspension for repeated violations of player safety, including personal fouls and illegal hits. According to Sportrac, Burfict had lost $5.3 million due to fines and suspensions from 2013-2019. Burfict entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State. He appeared in 79 games with 77 starts over the course of his career, making one Pro Bowl in 2013.
