Brian Burns doesn’t mind that the New York Giants are spending training camp at a swanky resort. The scenery at Greenbrier Country Club in West Virginia is a far cry from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., where his first two camps with the team were held, but Burns says the setting doesn’t change the job.
“It’s nice. It’s peaceful, a lot of mountains, trees, wildlife. So, you know what I’m saying, it’s a peaceful view, but there’s a lot of chaos on the field.”
That’s the part Burns is focused on. The edge defender, now in his third Giants camp, said the peaceful backdrop is easy to notice - he joked about seeing a big bird fly over practice and said, “I (didn’t) see no bears or nothing,” before adding, “I’m not trying to see that.” He also said he’s been looking out at the scenery and thinking about what to do on an off day, maybe fishing.
Burns’ background makes the change of location feel even more unusual. He was born in Fort Lauderdale, went to high school in the Miami metropolitan area, played college ball in Tallahassee, spent the first part of his NFL career in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the second part in northern New Jersey and New York City.
What hasn’t changed is the expectation level, and Burns says that starts with John Harbaugh. He described the Giants’ coach as someone who brings a clear edge to every meeting and every practice.
“He’s intense,” Burns said of Harbaugh. “I knew that from his team meetings but, I mean Harbs, he’s all about ball, and that’s what you want in a head coach.”
“Every time he opens his mouth,” he added. “That’s who he is, he can’t help it.
He’s got that intensity regardless. Enthusiasm I should say, not intensity.”
Burns likes that energy. More than that, he likes the way Harbaugh is setting the tone for camp.
“I don’t know about any of the younger guys that have been through it. Camp’s supposed to be hard,” he said.
“Camps supposed to be hard, that’s how it’s supposed to be. I don’t know, man.
We’re definitely going to work and I’m looking forward to it.”
He also said Harbaugh makes his standards plain.
“(Harbaugh) makes it very clear what he expects. He expects you to work.
He expects you to be a pro, show up on time, prepared. He’s not a man for excuses, he understands stuff happens, but he ain’t trying to give too much of that.”
Burns pointed out that the Giants have only two days off in the first 12 days of camp, but said the schedule is built with recovery in mind. In his view, the balance matters as much as the workload.
“Top priorities are obviously getting in football shape,” Burns said. “being in better condition than your opponent and I would say really just getting good at your identity. What you’re going to be calling most of the time.
There’s a good handful of calls that you’re going to have that you can always fall back on. You need to be able to execute them against any look, any personnel that the offense may throw at you and that’s kind of what you need to focus on.”
That kind of work, Burns believes, is the point of camp. The Giants were one of the best teams in the NFL at forcing third downs in 2025, but they were also one of the worst at getting off the field in those situations. Burns’ message is simple: build the foundation, embrace the grind, and let the defense become the kind of unit that can actually finish the job.
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