Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns isn’t focused on proving anything to his former teammates when New York plays the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Germany, in a game between two teams with 2-7 records.
Burns spent five years with the Panthers after being drafted in the first round of the 2019 draft. During his time in Carolina, he became one of the top edge rushers in the NFL and a key leader on the Panthers’ defense.
For a while, the 26-year-old former Florida State player thought his career would be entirely in North Carolina. But things changed in his last two years as the Panthers struggled, losing games and trading away important players like running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver DJ Moore, and defensive tackle Vernon Butler.
Burns had 46 sacks during his five seasons with the Panthers, but in March, he was traded to the Giants for a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and a fifth-round pick for next year.
“Like I said, business is business,” Burns said Wednesday after the Giants practiced for their game in Munich. “Business happened. I’m happy where I am. I’m blessed.”
Burns has played well for the Giants, despite dealing with a groin injury since their third game. He has five sacks, 36 tackles, seven tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, and has been steadily improving after a slow start.
Burns said he never asked to be traded after the Panthers went 2-15 in 2023.
He was optimistic about joining the Giants. The team had made the playoffs in 2022 under new head coach Brian Daboll, but they struggled last season, finishing 6-11. Burns hoped the addition of himself, the drafting of wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 pick, and quarterback Daniel Jones returning to health after knee surgery would turn things around.
Instead, the Giants have had trouble scoring this season. They’ll have a bye week after this weekend’s game, and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux is expected to return after the break.
Burns said it’s difficult to compare the Panthers and the Giants because they are two different teams with different situations.
He also mentioned that he didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to many people after being traded in the offseason. Burns still keeps in touch with several current and former Panthers players, including linebacker Shaq Thompson, defensive back Jaycee Horn, San Francisco defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, and Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu.
