Artie Burns Bio
Artie Tyrone Burns Jr. (born May 1, 1995) 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, the 25th overall pick. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 187 pounds, Burns has built a career as a steady defensive back across multiple NFL franchises.
Early Life and Background
Burns is a native of Miami, Florida, born to Artie Tyrone Burns and Dana Smith. He attended Miami Northwestern High School, where he starred as a defensive back and earned recognition as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, ranked the No. 15 cornerback prospect in his class. As a junior playing safety, Burns made 80 tackles, 10 for losses, broke up 87 passes, forced 17 fumbles, and recorded 22 interceptions, a statistical line that helped cement his status as one of the most productive young defenders in the region.
Beyond football, Burns was an exceptional high school track and field athlete. He was an All-USA high school track and field team selection by USA Today in 2011 and 2012. At the 2011 USA Youth outdoor track and field championships, he won both the 110-meter hurdles (13.90) and the 400-meter hurdles (52.23). At the 2012 Bob Hayes Invitational, Burns broke records in the 110 hurdles (13.35) and the 300 hurdles (36.14), both originally set by Michael Timpson in 1985. In 2014, he broke the American junior record in the indoor 60-meter hurdles, ending a 38-year-old mark.
Path to American Football
Burns committed to the University of Miami, where the Hurricanes hoped to pair him with Tracy Howard on the outside. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes from 2013 to 2015 and earned Second-team All-ACC honors in 2015, validating his projection as a high NFL Draft pick. Coming out of Miami, analysts viewed Burns as a first or second round prospect, and he attended the NFL Combine before a knee injury cut his workout short.
At Miami’s Pro Day, Burns stood on his combine numbers but redid the vertical, adding two inches while completing the remaining drills despite a torrential downpour. General managers from three teams commented that he was a top cornerback prospect after watching him perform in front of representatives from 31 teams, including Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
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 chosen by the Steelers in the first round since Chad Scott in 1997. On June 8, 2016, the Steelers signed him to a four-year, $9.59 million rookie contract with a $5.17 million signing bonus. A strained quad limited his training camp, but he made his professional debut on September 12, 2016, against the Washington Redskins.
Burns earned his first career start against the Baltimore Ravens on November 6, 2016, intercepting a pass by Joe Flacco in the first quarter. He finished his rookie season with 65 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, and three interceptions in 16 games and nine starts, helping the Steelers to an AFC Wild Card Round victory over the Miami Dolphins. In 2017, Burns was named the starting cornerback alongside Joe Haden and started all 16 games, recording 54 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2016–2019)
Burns opened his second season as a full-time starter, recording a season-high nine combined tackles in a 20–15 win over the Detroit Lions on October 29, 2017, and intercepting Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage on December 25, 2017. He received a grade of 70.5 from Pro Football Focus, ranking 44th among all cornerbacks that year. In 2018, Burns played in all 16 games and started six, recording 22 total tackles, one pass defensed, and one forced fumble while also notching his first career safety against the Kansas City Chiefs.
On May 1, 2019, the Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Burns’s contract, making him a free agent in 2020 and ending his four-year run in Pittsburgh.
Chicago Bears Era (2020–2021)
Burns signed with the Chicago Bears on March 26, 2020, but his season was cut short on August 18, 2020, when he suffered a torn ACL and was carted off the field, leading to a placement on injured reserve two days later. He re-signed with the Bears on March 26, 2021, continuing his NFL career after his recovery.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2022–2024)
Burns signed with the Seattle Seahawks on March 18, 2022, beginning a multi-year stay in the Pacific Northwest. On May 22, 2023, he re-signed with the Seahawks before being released on August 30 and re-signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on September 20. He re-signed again on March 15, 2024, was released on August 27, and returned to the practice squad before being signed to the active roster on October 10 and placed on injured reserve four days later due to a toe injury. Seattle waived Burns on December 17, 2024, and re-signed him to the practice squad two days later.
Miami Dolphins Era (2025–Present)
On March 17, 2025, Burns signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, returning to his hometown franchise. After tearing his ACL on the first day of training camp, the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve on July 24, 2025, sidelining him for the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a cornerback, Burns has built his game on ball production and physicality at the line of scrimmage. His track and field background, particularly in the hurdles, gives him elite short-area quickness and lower-body explosiveness that translate well to breaking on routes and disrupting receivers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Burns registered his first career interception against Joe Flacco on November 6, 2016, and earned his first career safety against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. He is the first cornerback drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round since Chad Scott in 1997, a distinction that underscores his place in franchise history.
Artie Burns Career Wins
Artie Burns has posted 199 total tackles, 4 interceptions, 38 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble across his NFL career. His career is defined more by durability and steady coverage than headline-grabbing win totals, as is typical for defensive backs.
NFL Highlights
Burns recorded three interceptions during his 2016 rookie season with the Steelers, including picks off Joe Flacco, Cody Kessler, and Tyrod Taylor. In his lone interception of 2017, he picked off Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage on December 25, 2017, in a 34–6 Steelers win. His career totals reflect a cornerback who has consistently contributed on the perimeter and in the slot across four NFL franchises.
Other Performances
At the collegiate level, Burns earned Second-team All-ACC recognition in 2015, capping a three-year career at the University of Miami. As a high school track star, he set American junior records and ranked among the top youth hurdlers in the world in 2012.
Artie Burns Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Burns was born to Artie Tyrone Burns and Dana Smith and was raised in Miami, Florida. On October 24, 2006, his father was arrested in South Carolina for trafficking cocaine and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with a projected release date of May 24, 2027. His mother died from a heart attack at the age of 44 in October 2015, prompting the University of Miami’s digital department to raise $40,000 through a GoFundMe account for her medical expenses.
Burns has two younger brothers, Jordan and Thomas. On February 25, 2015, his brother Thomas committed to play football for his alma mater, the University of Miami, continuing the family’s ties to the program.
Personal Life
Burns has two sons, A.J. and Saint Cairo, with his girlfriend Ella, to whom he became engaged in 2017. On June 29, 2017, Burns was arrested in Miami, Florida, for driving while his license was suspended for failure to pay traffic citations.
2025 Season Performance
Burns signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins on March 17, 2025, returning to his hometown team and providing veteran cornerback depth for the defense. His reunion with Miami, the franchise he grew up rooting for, carried clear storyline value as he joined a Dolphins secondary built around speed and aggression.
Unfortunately, Burns tore his ACL on the first day of training camp, and the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve on July 24, 2025. The injury sidelined him for the 2025 season and put the focus on his rehabilitation timeline and contract status beyond the current year.
With his contract running through 2026, Burns’s outlook centers on recovery and a potential return to the field in 2026, when he would look to re-establish himself as a contributing cornerback on the Miami roster.
