Following a 13-year playing career in which he became one of the most accomplished special teams players in the NFL, former linebacker Keith Burns begins his fifth season on the Denver Broncos’ staff in 2011 as an assistant special teams coach. Burns played 11 seasons for the Broncos before joining the club’s coaching staff in 2007.
During three seasons assisting with the instruction of Denver’s special teams, Burns has worked with a unit that has accounted for three return touchdowns (2 punt return, 1 kickoff return) and two blocked kicks (1 punt, 1 extra point) in addition to posting the 10th-best punt return average (9.5 yds.) in the NFL. The Broncos also have recorded the second-most touchbacks on kickoffs (60) in the league over that span.
Following a 13-year playing career in which he became one of the most accomplished special teams players in the NFL, former linebacker Keith Burns begins his fifth season on the Denver Broncos’ staff in 2011 as an assistant special teams coach. Burns played 11 seasons for the Broncos before joining the club’s coaching staff in 2007.
During three seasons assisting with the instruction of Denver’s special teams, Burns has worked with a unit that has accounted for three return touchdowns (2 punt return, 1 kickoff return) and two blocked kicks (1 punt, 1 extra point) in addition to posting the 10th-best punt return average (9.5 yds.) in the NFL. The Broncos also have recorded the second-most touchbacks on kickoffs (60) in the league over that span.
Individually, Burns has coached four players who have totaled five AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards with kickers Matt Prater (2) and Jason Elam (1) along with wide receivers Glenn Martinez (1) and Eddie Royal (1) earning recognition from the league. Prater and Royal also have been tabbed AFC Special Teams Player of the Month by the NFL.
The Broncos had one of the NFL’s top kickoff coverage units in 2009 with Burns working with a group that placed third in the league in average opponent drive start after kickoffs (22.9-yard line). Royal, who ranked seventh in the NFL in punt return average (11.2 yds.), became the 11th player in league history to have both a kickoff and punt return touchdown in the same game (at San Diego, 10/19/09). Prater made 19 of his final 20 field goal attempts and tied for the third-most field goals for a season (30) in club history.
In 2008, Burns’ work with Denver’s special teams helped college free agent punter Brett Kern earn consensus All-Rookie honors after posting the fifth-best gross punting average (46.7 yds.) in the league. Royal, in his rookie year, placed seventh in the NFL in kickoff return average (26.1 yds.) while also handling punt return duties.
Burns instructed a Broncos special teams unit in 2007 that played a key role in several victories as Elam became the first player since the 1970 NFL merger to convert four walk-off, game-winning field goals in the same season (2 in regulation, 2 in overtime). Denver also scored a touchdown on a punt return for the first time in four years (Martinez).
During his playing career with the Broncos from 1994-98, 2000-03 and ‘05-06, Burns led the team or tied for its season high in special-teams tackles seven times and totaled 186 special-teams stops in 166 career games (3 starts) with the club. Burns, whose 166 career games played with Denver tie for the 14th most by a player in club history, also added 70 defensive tackles (47 solo), 1.5 sacks (9 yds.), two pass breakups and one forced fumble as a Bronco.
A key member of the Broncos’ teams that won Super Bowl XXXII in 1997 and XXXIII in 1998, Burns helped Denver earn three AFC West titles (1996, ‘98, 2005) along with six playoff berths (1996-98, 2000, ‘03, ‘05). His 12 career postseason games with Denver tie for the 10th most by a player in team history.
Burns entered the NFL with Denver as a seventh-round choice (210th overall) in the 1994 NFL Draft from Oklahoma State University. In addition to playing for the Broncos, he spent the 1999 season with the Chicago Bears and competed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2004 campaign.
For his entire NFL career, Burns played 197 games (3 starts) and totaled 231 special-teams tackles. He also posted 77 career defensive stops (50 solo), 1.5 sacks (9 yds.), one interception (15 yds.), three pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Burns is a native of Greeleyville, S.C., and was born on May 16, 1972. He and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters (Danielle and Rachel) and one son (Keith).
