{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Major Burns | image = 111123_LSU_Tigers_vs_Florida_State_Gators_667.jpg | alt = | caption = Burns with the LSU Tigers in 2023 | current_team = Houston Gamblers | number =18 | position = Safety | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|05|22|mf=y}} | birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 209 | high_school = Madison Prep Academy {{nowrap|(Baton Rouge)}} | college = {{ubl|Georgia (2020)|LSU (2021–2024)}} | undraftedyear = 2025 | pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2025}})* * Houston Gamblers ({{UFL Year|2026}}–present) | status = Active | highlights =* UFL interceptions leader (2026) | statseason = 2025 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Tackles | statvalue1 = | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = | statlabel5 = Pass deflections | statvalue5 = | statlabel6 = Interceptions | statvalue6 = | statlabel7 = Touchdowns | statvalue7 = | pfr = }}
'''Major Delmontzra Burns''' (born May 22, 2002) is an American professional football safety for the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers.
== Early life == Burns attended Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he played wide receiver and defensive back, as well as quarterback. He initially committed to play college football at LSU before flipping to Texas A&M.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wayne Bratton |first1=Michael |title=Georgia defensive back Major Burns, former Under Armour All-American, announces transfer |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/georgia-football/major-burns-bulldogs-kirby-smart-baton-rouge-lsu-texas-am/ |website=Saturday Down South |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> Burns flipped his commitment once again to the University of Georgia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Burns Commits to Georgia |url=https://www.si.com/college/georgia/recruiting/major-burns-commits-to-georgia |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
== College career == === Georgia === As a freshman in 2020, Burns recorded five tackles in six games, and entered the NCAA transfer portal after the season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Towers |first1=Chip |title=Georgia safety Major Burns enters transfer portal |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgia-safety-major-burns-enters-transfer-portal/ZVG44FU4DFAAFDXHTCXJMBH2KY/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
=== LSU === Burns transferred to LSU to continue his career.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Wilson |title=Major Burns transfers to LSU and is returning home after year at Georgia |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/major-burns-transfers-to-lsu-and-is-returning-home-after-year-at-georgia/article_c3460e1a-b800-11eb-941d-239ce6331ce4.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> In week 3 of the 2021 season, he recorded his first career interception in a win over Central Michigan.<ref>{{cite web |title=LSU Football Executes Ideal Gameplan in 49-21 Rout of |url=https://www.si.com/college/lsu/football/lsu-blasts-central-michigan-in-49-21-win |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> However, after starting five games, Burns suffered a season-ending foot injury.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farmer |first1=Keith |title=Major Burns suffers injury that shuts him down for the rest of spring practice |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/lsu-football/major-burns-suffers-injury-that-shuts-him-down-for-the-rest-of-spring-practice/ |website=Saturday Down South |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> He finished the 2021 season with 25 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Burns 2021 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/major-burns-1/gamelog/2021/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> Burns suffered another injury in 2022, forcing him to miss five games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mickels |first1=Sheldon |title=LSU's secondary to be without starting safety Major Burns for significant amount of time |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/lsus-secondary-to-be-without-starting-safety-major-burns-for-significant-amount-of-time/article_10db42de-3c81-11ed-887e-23adfe587faf.html |website=NOLA.com |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> He finished the season with 38 tackles with 3.5 going for a loss, and three pass deflections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Burns 2022 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/major-burns-1/gamelog/2022/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> In week 6 of the 2023 season, Burns intercepted a pass in the final minutes and returned it for a touchdown, as he helped the Tigers beat Missouri 49-39.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nettuno |first1=Tyler |title=Instant Analysis: LSU survives against Missouri thanks to late Major Burns pick-six |url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2023/10/07/lsu-football-missouri-win-instant-analysis/71102162007/ |website=The Town Talk |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 2 | weight = 207 | dash = 4.51 | ten split = 1.56 | twenty split = 2.60 | shuttle = 4.44 | cone drill = 7.13 | vertical = 37.5 | bench = 12 | arm span = 31 1/2 | hand span = 9 1/8 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lsusports.net/25proday/ |title=2025 LSU Football Pro Day |website=LSUSports.net |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1039595&DraftYear=2025 |title=Major Burns College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> }}
=== Chicago Bears === Burns signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bears sign 10 undrafted free agents|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-sign-10-undrafted-free-agents|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=May 8, 2025}}</ref> He was waived on August 12 with an injury designation and reverted to injured reserve the following day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago Bears announce roster moves |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/chicago-bears-announce-roster-moves-august-12-2025 |website=chicagobears.com |access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bears' Major Burns: Reverts to IR |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/bears-major-burns-reverts-to-ir/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> On August 21, Burns was waived from injured reserve with a settlement.<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL news roundup: Saints to start Spender Rattler in preseason finale; Steelers DT Derrick Harmon injures knee |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-thursday-aug-21 |website=NFL |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>
=== Houston Gamblers === On March 10, 2026, Burns signed with the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Larsen |first1=James |title=Defenders Sign DE Khairi Manns, Gamblers Add S Major Burns |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/defenders-sign-de-khairi-manns-gamblers-add-s-major-burns/ |website=PF Newsroom |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://georgiadogs.com/sports/football/roster/major-burns/4793 Georgia Bulldogs bio] *[https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/major-burns/ LSU Tigers bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, Major}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Players of American football from Baton Rouge, Louisiana Category:American football cornerbacks Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players Category:LSU Tigers football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Houston Gamblers (UFL) players