{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1990)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Use American English|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Bryan Burnham | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | current_team = | number = 16 | position = Wide receiver | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|4|3}} | birth_place = Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 210 | high_school = Moorestown (New Jersey) | college = Tulsa | undraftedyear = 2013 | pastteams = * BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2014}}–{{CFL Year|2022}}) | highlights = * 3× CFL All-Star ({{CFL Year|2017}}, {{CFL Year|2019}}, {{CFL Year|2021}}) * 5× CFL West All-Star ({{CFL Year|2016|2019}}, {{CFL Year|2021}}) }} '''Bryan Burnham''' (born April 3, 1990) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played nine seasons for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2014 to 2022. Burnham played college football at the University of Tulsa. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the BC Lions in 2014. He is from Moorestown, New Jersey.
==College career== Burnham played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, the only NCAA Division I school that recruited him.<ref name="Beamish">{{cite web |url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Eagle+eyed+sister+celebrates+Bryan+Burnham+first+with+Lions/10229663/story.html |title=Eagle-eyed sister celebrates Bryan Burnham's first TD with Lions |last=Beamish |first=Mike |date=24 September 2014 |work=The Vancouver Sun |access-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721151331/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Eagle%2Beyed%2Bsister%2Bcelebrates%2BBryan%2BBurnham%2Bfirst%2Bwith%2BLions/10229663/story.html |archive-date=21 July 2015 }}</ref> After he developed a serious infection when he cut his arm in practice, he sat out his freshman year with redshirt status in 2008.<ref name="Beamish" /> He played as a defensive back in 2009 and 2010 before switching to the wide receiver position for his junior year. In his first year at that position, Burnham caught 54 receptions for 850 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns. Burnham was injured in the third quarter of the first game of the 2012 season against Iowa State.<ref name="Taylor">{{cite web |url=http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/04/tulsas-top-receiver-out-with-season-ending-injury/ |title=Tulsa's top receiver out with season-ending injury |last=Taylor |first=John |date=4 September 2012 |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=tulsa>{{cite web |title=Bryan Burnham |url=http://www.tulsahurricane.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/burnham_bryan00.html |website=Tulsa Hurricanes |access-date=11 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612101232/http://www.tulsahurricane.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/burnham_bryan00.html |archive-date=12 June 2015 }}</ref> He suffered a torn ACL injury which ended his final year of NCAA eligibility.<ref name="Kuntz">{{cite web |url=http://www.newson6.com/story/24360539/athletes-face-long-recovery-from-common-acl-injuries |title=Athletes Face Long Recovery From Common ACL Injuries |last=Kuntz |first=Harold |publisher=News on 6 |access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref> Tulsa sought a waiver from the NCAA to allow Burnham to compete in his sixth-year given the early timing of his injury, but this request and its appeal were declined.<ref name=waiver>{{cite news |title=NCAA rejects Bryan Burnham appeal |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/9233500/ncaa-rejects-sixth-year-bryan-burnham-tulsa-golden-hurricane |access-date=11 June 2015 |work=ESPN}}</ref>
==Professional career== Burnham was signed as a free agent by BC Lions in May 2014 for the upcoming season. Initially playing on the practice squad, he made his pro debut in Week 13 against the Toronto Argonauts, in which he caught five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.<ref name="TSN">{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/with-injuries-mounting-rookie-wrs-getting-a-chance-with-b-c-lions-1.90551 |title=With injuries mounting, rookie WRs getting a chance with B.C. Lions |date=September 24, 2014 |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=16 June 2015}}</ref> His season was cut short one week later when he suffered a lacerated spleen.<ref name="bclions">Click highlights and college tabs at {{cite web |title=Bryan Burnham |url=http://www.bclions.com/roster/show/id/7151 |website=BC Lions |access-date=11 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513085540/http://bclions.com/roster/show/id/7151 |archive-date=13 May 2015 }}</ref><ref name="CBC.ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/andrew-harris-out-until-cfl-playoffs-with-dislocated-ankle-1.2781871 |title=Andrew Harris out until CFL playoffs with dislocated ankle |last=Canadian Press |date=29 September 2015 |work=CBC.ca |access-date=16 June 2015}}</ref> In his second season in the CFL Burnham played in 11 games catching 35 passes 423 yards with 2 touchdowns. Burnham had a breakout season in 2016, playing in all 18 games for the first time in his career he set personal bests in catches, yards and touchdowns. His 1,392 receiving yards was fourth highest in the league that year. Burnham was set to become a free agent in February 2017. On December 6, 2016, Burnham had a workout with the Minnesota Vikings,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nfltraderumors.co/vikings-worked-5-cfl-players-including-dt-michael-brooks/ |title=Vikings Worked Out 5 CFL Players Including DT Michael Brooks – NFLTradeRumors.co |website=nfltraderumors.co |date=December 7, 2016 |access-date=2016-12-08}}</ref> and a workout with the New York Jets on December 15, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://3downnation.com/2016/12/15/slew-of-cfl-players-worked-out-for-new-york-jets/ |title=Slew of CFL players worked out for New York Jets |last1=Sportsnet |first1=Justin DunkJustin Dunk was a five-year starter at quarterback for the University of Guelph He covers the league for |last2=3DownNation. |date=2016-12-15 |website=3DownNation |access-date=2016-12-16}}</ref> According to BC Lions head coach Wally Buono, Burnham had workouts with somewhere between 10 and 12 NFL teams between the end of the 2016 season and January 31, 2017, at which time pending CFL free agents were no longer allowed to work out with NFL teams until their contracts expired on February 14, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/mike-beamish-lions-have-more-than-a-passing-interest-in-re-signing-receiver-bryan-burnham |title=Mike Beamish: Lions have more than a passing interest in re-signing receiver Bryan Burnham |date=2017-02-04 |newspaper=The Province |language=en-US |access-date=2017-02-04}}</ref> On February 10, 2017, Burnham and the Lions agreed to a two-year contract extension.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tsn.ca/lions-agree-with-burnham-on-two-year-deal-1.669169 |title=Lions agree with Burnham on two-year deal – Article – TSN |date=2017-02-10 |newspaper=TSN |access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref> Over the following two seasons Burnham continued to be a key part of the Lions passing attack, catching over 148 passes for 2,231 yards with 16 touchdowns. Identically to two years prior, on February 10, 2019, Burnham and the Lions agreed to a two-year contract extension.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/lions-reportedly-re-sign-burnham-re-sign-lee-1.1255474|title=Lions reportedly re-sign Burnham; re-sign Lee – TSN.ca|author=TSN ca Staff|date=2019-02-10|website=TSN|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> He had a career-high 100 receptions for 1,492 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns en route to being named a CFL All-Star.<ref name="allstars">{{cite web|title=Stars Aligned: 2019 CFL All-Stars unveiled |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/11/27/stars-aligned-2019-cfl-stars-unveiled/ |publisher=Canadian Football League|date=2019-11-27}}</ref> Following the cancellation of the 2020 season Burnham and the Lions agreed to a new contract extension on February 1, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|agency=The Canadian Press|date=2021-02-01|title=BC Lions re-sign All-Star receiver Bryan Burnham, bring back LB Bo Lokombo for third stint – TSN.ca|url=https://www.tsn.ca/bc-lions-re-sign-all-star-receiver-bryan-burnham-bring-back-lb-bo-lokombo-for-third-stint-1.1586100|access-date=2021-02-01|website=TSN|language=en}}</ref> Burnham was once again named a CFL All-Star following the 2021 season, posting 67 receptions for 965 yards and five touchdowns. Burnham suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs on June 25, 2022, and it was announced he would miss the next 3–6 games.<ref>{{Cite web |author=TSN ca Staff |date=2022-06-27 |title=Lions WR Burnham to miss the next 3–6 weeks – TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/bc-lions-wr-bryan-burnham-to-miss-the-next-3-6-weeks-1.1818247 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=TSN |language=en}}</ref> Later in the 2022 season he suffered a fractured wrist.<ref>{{Cite web |author=TSN ca Staff |date=2022-09-25 |title=Lions' WR Burnham suffered fractured wrist in loss to Stampeders – TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/bryan-burnham-fractured-wrist-bc-lions-1.1853689 |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=TSN |language=en}}</ref> He was placed on the six-game injured reserve list on September 26, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |author=3Down Staff |date=2022-09-26 |title=B.C. Lions place receiver Bryan Burnham on six-game injured list |url=https://3downnation.com/2022/09/26/b-c-lions-to-place-receiver-bryan-burnham-on-six-game-injured-list/ |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}}</ref> Burnham ended up missing half the season with injuries and caught only 41 passes, his lowest total since his second season in the league (2015) in which he caught 35 passes.
On December 6, 2022, Burnham retired from professional football after nine seasons with the Lions.
===Season statistics=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="65%" style="text-align:center" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="2" | Receiving ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="7" | Regular season ! rowspan="104" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="6" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Games ! Rec !Att ! Yards ! Avg ! Long ! TD ! Games ! No. ! Yards ! Avg ! Long ! TD |- align="center" | 2014 | BC | 2 | 6 |12 | 113 | 18.8 | 35 | 1 | colspan="6" | ''Did not participate due to injury'' |- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015 | BC | 11 | 35 |53 | 423 | 12.1 | 47 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 0 |- | 2016 | BC | '''18''' | 79 |106 | 1,392 | 17.6 | 55 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 97 | 19.4 | 34 | 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2017 |BC |16 |81 |125 |1,202 |14.8 |53 |7 | colspan="6" |''Team did not qualify'' |- |2018 |BC |'''18''' |67 |109 |1,029 |15.4 |55 |9 |1 |3 |35 |11.7 |12 |0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2019 |BC |17 || '''100''' |'''146'''|| '''1,492''' || 14.9 || 56 || '''11''' | colspan="6" |''Team did not qualify'' |- ALIGN="center" | 2020 | BC | colspan="7" | ''Season cancelled'' | colspan="6" | ''Season cancelled'' |- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2021 |BC |14 || 67 |93|| 965 || 14.4 || '''61'''|| 5 | colspan="6" |''Team did not qualify'' |- |2022 |BC |9 |41 |59 |569 |14.5 |53 |4 |2 !6 |87 |14.5 |26 |1 | |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |CFL totals ! 105 !! 476 !703!! 7,212 !! 15.2 !! 61 !! 42 ! 6 !! 15 !! 243 !! 16.2 !! 34 !! 2 |}
==Personal life== Burnham's father, Lem Burnham, was a defensive lineman with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1977 to 1979. He also worked as the team psychologist for the Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers and Baltimore Orioles.<ref name="Beamish" /> His brother, Lewis, played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205676628 |title=LEWIS BURNHAM |publisher=goheels.com |access-date=July 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721022526/http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205676628 |archive-date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> He also has two sisters, the eldest Shannon, attended Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania on a basketball scholarship,<ref name="Beamish" /> Kara attended Montclair University in New Jersey where she played both basketball and volleyball. Bryan married his wife, Aubrey Burnham, in April 2018. They currently reside in Oklahoma.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://www.bclions.com/players/bryan-burnham/160743/ BC Lions bio] * {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923113654/http://cfl.ca/roster/show?id=7151 |date=September 23, 2015 |title=CFL profile (old link)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burnham, Bryan}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:American football wide receivers Category:Players of Canadian football from New Jersey Category:BC Lions players Category:Canadian football wide receivers Category:Moorestown High School alumni Category:Sportspeople from Moorestown, New Jersey Category:Players of American football from Burlington County, New Jersey Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane football players