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.
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 Spotrac.com. 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.
