Oren Burks Bio
Oren Spencer Burks is an American professional football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 21, 1995, in Lorton, Virginia, he played college football for the Vanderbilt Commodores before being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Across his professional career, Burks has also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, and he is a Super Bowl champion after contributing to the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 233 pounds, Burks has built a reputation as a versatile defender who contributes on defense and on special teams. He wears jersey number 42 and remains active in the NFL heading into the 2025 campaign.
Early Life and Background
Oren Spencer Burks was born on March 21, 1995, in Lorton, Virginia, a community in Fairfax County in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He grew up in Northern Virginia and attended South County High School in Lorton, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete with a focus on football. His size and athleticism allowed him to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball during his prep career.
Coming out of South County, Burks was rated as a three-star recruit by national scouting services. He drew scholarship offers from several Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference programs, including Duke, Maryland, and Boston College, before ultimately committing to Vanderbilt University. His decision to play in the SEC reflected his ambition to test himself against top-tier competition at the college level.
Path to American Football
Burks joined the Vanderbilt Commodores and worked his way into the defensive rotation during his early seasons in Nashville. In his second year, he produced one of his most memorable college performances against Kentucky, intercepting two passes and returning one for a touchdown. That performance earned him Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors and helped establish him as a playmaker on the Vanderbilt defense.
Following his senior season, Burks received an invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl as an alternate, giving him a chance to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts. His combination of size, coverage ability, and special teams value led to his selection in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was the 12th linebacker taken in that draft class.
Oren Burks Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
On May 17, 2018, the Green Bay Packers signed Burks to a four-year, $3.43 million contract that included a signing bonus of $820,756. He entered training camp competing with Antonio Morrison for a starting inside linebacker role after Jake Ryan suffered a torn ACL. A shoulder injury during pre-game warmups of the Packers’ third preseason game at the Oakland Raiders sidelined him for the first two regular season contests.
Burks made his NFL regular season debut on September 23, 2018, recording two combined tackles in a 31–17 loss at the Washington Redskins. As a rookie, he appeared in 14 games with four starts and totaled 24 tackles. Over the next three seasons in Green Bay, he became a core special teams contributor while expanding his defensive role, appearing in 12 games in 2019, 16 in 2020, and all 17 in 2021 with three starts and 36 tackles.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2022–2023)
On March 17, 2022, Burks signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, joining one of the NFC’s most consistent defensive units. In 2022, he appeared in 17 games with three starts, finishing with a half-sack, 38 total tackles, and one pass defended. His role grew again in 2023, when he appeared in 15 games with three starts and recorded a full sack, 46 tackles, an interception, and a pass defended.
The 2023 season peaked with a Super Bowl LVIII start for the 49ers, though San Francisco fell 25–22 in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs. Burks left San Francisco after the 2023 campaign as a free agent seeking a larger role elsewhere.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2024)
On March 19, 2024, Burks signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, joining a defense with championship aspirations. He made his first Eagles start in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, stepping in for the injured Nakobe Dean and recording a forced fumble in a 41–7 win. He finished the regular season with 41 total tackles and one pass defended.
Burks played a defining role in the Eagles’ postseason run. In the Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers, he forced a fumble on the opening kickoff and added four tackles plus an assist while taking over the starting job after Dean’s injury. In the NFC Championship against the Washington Commanders, he forced a fumble against Austin Ekeler in a 55–23 rout. In Super Bowl LIX, he recorded five tackles as Philadelphia defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 to claim the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2025–Present)
On March 17, 2025, Burks signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, returning to a starting-caliber role in the AFC. He finished the 2025 season with 48 total tackles (17 solo), one pass defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery, demonstrating continued production as a versatile defender.
His arrival in Cincinnati added experienced leadership to a Bengals defense looking to complement an offense led by quarterback Joe Burrow. Burks’ contract is scheduled to run through the 2026 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burks is known for his physicality at the point of attack, fluid movement in coverage, and reliability on special teams units. Coaches have praised his football IQ and willingness to take on multiple roles, whether aligned as an inside linebacker, used in sub-packages, or deployed on kicking teams. His knack for forcing fumbles, including high-profile takeaways in the 2024 playoffs, underscores his aggressive tackling style.
Notable Events and Milestones
Burks’ career-defining stretch came during the Eagles’ 2024 playoff run, where he forced fumbles in three consecutive games, including the Wild Card, NFC Championship, and Super Bowl LIX. He is a Super Bowl champion as part of the Philadelphia Eagles team that defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in New Orleans.
Oren Burks Career Stats
Through the 2025 NFL season, Oren Spencer Burks has accumulated 265 total tackles, 2 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 pass deflections, and 1 interception across his professional career.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Burks posted a career-high 48 total tackles in 2025 with the Cincinnati Bengals. He matched that high-water mark with 46 tackles in 2023 with the San Francisco 49ers, a season in which he also recorded his first career interception. His most disruptive campaign came in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles, when he forced multiple fumbles in the postseason and won Super Bowl LIX.
Postseason Performances
Burks has been a key figure in multiple deep playoff runs, including starts in Super Bowl LVIII with the 49ers and Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles. His forced fumbles in the 2024 postseason helped Philadelphia overcome the Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders en route to a championship.
Oren Burks Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Oren Spencer Burks grew up in Lorton, Virginia, with deep ties to the Northern Virginia community. Details about his parents and siblings have not been widely publicized.
Personal Life
Burks maintains an active presence off the field and is represented publicly through his verified Instagram account. He has not publicly disclosed marital or parental status in available reporting.
2025 Season Performance
Oren Spencer Burks entered the 2025 season as a key addition to the Cincinnati Bengals defense after signing a two-year deal in March. He immediately became a regular contributor, finishing the year with 48 total tackles (17 solo), one pass defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His production reflected a steady role as a run-stopping and coverage linebacker.
Burks’ arrival gave the Bengals a reliable veteran presence alongside younger defenders, and his special teams background allowed defensive coordinators to deploy him in multiple packages. His experience from Super Bowl LVIII and Super Bowl LIX added a championship pedigree to the Cincinnati locker room.
Heading into 2026, Burks remains under contract with the Bengals and is expected to continue as a core defensive piece and special teams anchor for the franchise.