Artie Burns Bio
Artie Tyrone Burns Jr. is an American professional football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft with the 25th overall pick.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Burns developed into one of the top high school athletes in the country before emerging as a reliable NFL starter. Across stops in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Seattle, and Miami, he has built a reputation as a physical, ball-hawking cornerback capable of producing in both man and zone coverage.
Early Life and Background
Artie Tyrone Burns Jr. was born on May 1, 1995, in Miami, Florida. He grew up in a close-knit household with his mother, Dana Smith, and his father, Artie Tyrone Burns. His mother died from a heart attack in October 2015 at the age of 44, a loss that deeply shaped his personal outlook and motivation. His father was arrested in South Carolina in October 2006 for trafficking cocaine and was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Burns attended Miami Northwestern High School, where he starred as a defensive back. He was a teammate of several future NFL players, including wide receiver Eli Rogers, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and wide receiver Amari Cooper. As a junior playing safety, he posted impressive production with 80 tackles, 22 interceptions, and 17 forced fumbles, earning recognition as a four-star recruit and the No. 15 cornerback prospect in his class.
Beyond football, Burns was a standout high school track and field athlete. He earned All-USA honors from USA Today in both 2011 and 2012 and won national youth titles in the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles. In 2012 he posted the No. 5 time in the world among junior athletes in the 110 hurdles, and in 2014 he broke the American junior indoor record in the 60-meter hurdles.
Path to American Football
Burns committed to the University of Miami, where the Hurricanes planned to pair him with cornerback Tracy Howard on the outside. He developed into a reliable starter for the Miami Hurricanes and earned second-team All-ACC recognition in 2015, cementing his status as one of the top defensive back prospects in college football.
Heading into the 2016 NFL Draft, analysts projected Burns as a first or second round pick. He attended the NFL Combine but could not complete all drills after a knee injury. He returned for Miami’s Pro Day, where he re-tested several events in front of representatives from 31 NFL teams, including Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, and drew praise from multiple general managers as a top cornerback prospect.
Artie Burns Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Burns in the first round with the 25th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, making him the first cornerback taken by the Steelers in the first round since 1997. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $9.59 million and quickly worked his way into a contributing role as a rookie.
He finished his rookie season with 65 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, and three interceptions in 16 games and nine starts, adding three solo tackles in an AFC Wild Card victory over the Miami Dolphins. In 2017, Burns became a full-time starter opposite newly acquired Joe Haden, recording 54 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one interception across 16 starts.
Pittsburgh Steelers Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Burns made an immediate impact during his rookie season. He started his first career game against the Baltimore Ravens on November 6, 2016, intercepting quarterback Joe Flacco in the first quarter and earning the starting role. He followed that with another interception against the Cleveland Browns’ Cody Kessler and picked off Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor later in the year, finishing with three interceptions as a rookie.
In 2017, Burns opened the season as a starter and played every game, anchoring the Steelers secondary alongside Haden. The following year, he recorded his first career safety by tackling Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt in the end zone. However, in May 2019, Pittsburgh declined the fifth-year option on his contract, making him a free agent after the 2019 season.
Chicago Bears Era (2020–2021)
Burns signed with the Chicago Bears on March 26, 2020, hoping to revive his career in a new defensive scheme. Unfortunately, his season ended before it began when he tore his ACL on August 18, 2020, and was placed on injured reserve.
He re-signed with the Bears on March 26, 2021, and remained with the team through the 2021 season as he continued his recovery and worked to re-establish himself as a dependable NFL cornerback.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2022–2024)
Burns signed with the Seattle Seahawks on March 18, 2022, beginning a three-year stretch in Seattle. He re-signed with the team on May 22, 2023, and again on March 15, 2024, providing veteran depth in the secondary. Throughout his time with the Seahawks he moved between the active roster and the practice squad, including a stint on injured reserve due to a toe injury in October 2024, before being waived and re-signed within the same week in December 2024.
Miami Dolphins Era (2025–Present)
On March 17, 2025, Burns signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, returning to the city where he grew up and starred in high school. The signing was widely viewed as a homecoming for the Miami native.
His 2025 season was interrupted on the very first day of training camp when he tore his ACL, and the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve on July 24, 2025. The injury cut short what was expected to be a meaningful role in the Dolphins secondary.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burns has long been recognized for his physicality at the line of scrimmage, his willingness to support the run, and his ball skills in coverage. His track and field background has contributed to rare short-area quickness and recovery speed for a cornerback of his size, allowing him to stay in phase with receivers down the field.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Burns recorded his first NFL interception in his first career start against the Baltimore Ravens in 2016, earned first-team starting duties as a second-year player, and scored his first career safety in 2018 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also the first cornerback drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1997.
Artie Burns Career Wins
While Artie Burns is a defensive player whose statistical impact is measured in tackles, interceptions, and pass breakups rather than traditional wins, his career includes several signature victories and postseason appearances. He started an AFC Wild Card victory over the Miami Dolphins in January 2017 and has been part of multiple winning defenses throughout his NFL career.
NFL Career Highlights
Burns opened his NFL career with three interceptions as a rookie in 2016, a mark that led all Steelers defensive backs that season. He has started NFL postseason games, recorded a career safety, and posted single-season totals of 65 combined tackles (2016) and 54 combined tackles (2017) while playing every defensive snap in several contests.
Other Performances
Before the NFL, Burns was a decorated high school track star, winning national youth hurdles titles and setting American junior records. He also earned second-team All-ACC honors at the University of Miami in 2015, underscoring his standing as one of the top defensive backs in college football that year.
Artie Burns Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Burns was raised in Miami by his mother, Dana Smith, and his father, Artie Tyrone Burns. His father was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2006 after a cocaine trafficking arrest, and his mother passed away from a heart attack in October 2015 at the age of 44. Burns also has two younger brothers, Jordan and Thomas, with Thomas committing to play football at the University of Miami in 2015.
Personal Life
Burns is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Ella, with whom he has two sons, A.J. and Saint Cairo. The couple became engaged in 2017 and continue to raise their family together. Burns remains connected to his Miami roots, often speaking about the influence of his late mother and his hometown community on his career.
2025 Season Performance
Burns signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins on March 17, 2025, returning to his hometown team with hopes of contributing to a revamped secondary. The deal represented a fresh start for the veteran cornerback after several seasons bouncing between active rosters and practice squads.
His 2025 season, however, was sidetracked almost immediately. On the first day of training camp, Burns tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve on July 24, 2025, ending his year before it could begin. The injury was a significant setback for both player and team.
Looking ahead, Burns remains under contract with the Dolphins through the 2026 season, giving him a clear opportunity to recover fully and compete for a role in Miami’s defensive backfield once healthy. His veteran experience and familiarity with the organization are expected to play a role in the team’s long-term plans.