Brian Burns just put together the kind of season that turns heads across the league - and now the accolades are stacking up to match.
The New York Giants’ edge rusher has been named to the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-NFL Team, a well-earned recognition after a breakout 2025 campaign that was easily the best of his seven-year career. Burns is one of 16 players making their PFWA All-Pro debut this year, and his inclusion feels less like a surprise and more like a long-overdue coronation.
Let’s talk numbers - because Burns’ production in 2025 wasn’t just good, it was disruptive in all the right ways. He racked up a career-high 16.5 sacks, finally putting it all together in a season where he was a consistent nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
But the impact didn’t stop there. Burns also posted personal bests in quarterback hits (31), tackles for loss (22), and matched his career high in forced fumbles with three.
That’s not just stat-padding - that’s game-changing production from a player who’s become the heartbeat of the Giants’ defense.
He wasn’t just making plays - he was leading the charge. As a team captain, Burns set the tone for a Giants defense that leaned heavily on his ability to create chaos off the edge. His relentless motor and improved technique turned pressures into finishes, and finishes into momentum-shifting moments.
The PFWA nod isn’t the only recognition he’s received. Burns was also named a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and earned his third Pro Bowl selection - a trifecta of honors that cements his status among the league’s elite pass rushers. For a player who’s long flashed potential, 2025 was the year it all came together.
Burns joins a stacked PFWA All-NFL defensive unit that includes some of the game’s biggest defensive disruptors. He shares the outside linebacker spot with Denver’s Nik Bonitto, while Myles Garrett and Will Anderson Jr. hold it down at defensive end. On the interior, Jeffery Simmons and Leonard Williams made the cut, rounding out a front seven that brought heat all year long.
Here’s a quick look at the full 2025 PFWA All-NFL Team:
Offense
- Quarterback: Matthew Stafford (Rams)
- Running Backs: James Cook (Bills), Christian McCaffrey (49ers)
- Wide Receivers: Puka Nacua (Rams), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks)
- Tight End: Trey McBride (Cardinals)
- Center: Creed Humphrey (Chiefs)
- Guards: Quinn Meinerz (Broncos), Joe Thuney (Bears)
- Tackles: Garett Bolles (Broncos), Penei Sewell (Lions)
Defense
- Defensive Ends: Will Anderson Jr.
(Texans), Myles Garrett (Browns)
- Defensive Tackles: Jeffery Simmons (Titans), Leonard Williams (Seahawks)
- Outside Linebackers: Nik Bonitto (Broncos), Brian Burns (Giants)
- Middle Linebacker: Jack Campbell (Lions)
- Cornerbacks: Quinyon Mitchell (Eagles), Derek Stingley Jr. (Texans)
- Safeties: Kevin Byard III (Bears), Kyle Hamilton (Ravens)
Special Teams
- Place Kicker: Brandon Aubrey (Cowboys)
- Punter: Jordan Stout (Ravens)
- Kick Returner: Ray Davis (Bills)
- Punt Returner: Chimere Dike (Titans)
For Burns, this isn’t just a personal milestone - it’s a signal to the rest of the league. The Giants have a game-wrecker on the edge, and he’s playing the best football of his career. If 2025 was any indication, Brian Burns has officially arrived - and he’s not going anywhere.