Vontaze Burfict

Vontaze DeLeon Burfict Jr. ( VON-tez BUR-fikt; born September 24, 1990) is an American former professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, earning first-team All-American honors. Burfict was a projected top pick in the 2012 NFL draft until an unimpressive NFL Combine performance and character concerns led to him not being selected. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bengals, where he spent his first seven seasons. In his final season, he was a member of the Oakland Raiders.

Burfict led the Bengals in tackles during his rookie season and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2013. He also incited controversy throughout his career for frequently violating player safety rules, which caused him to be suspended for 22 games due to 14 separate incidents and accumulate over $5.3 million in fines and forfeited salary. Burfict only played four games as a Raider before being suspended for a helmet-to-helmet hit. The 12-game suspension is the longest on-field suspension in NFL history. In 2025, Burfict joined the UNLV Rebels as a defensive analyst.

Early life

Burfict attended Centennial High School in Corona, California, where he was part of an undefeated Huskies team that won a CIF state championship with the help of quarterback Taylor Martinez; the team was ranked second in the nation by USA Today in 2008. That year, Burfict led the Huskies with 159 tackles, two quarterback sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Burfict participated in the US Army All-American Bowl and was the third-leading tackler for the West team. He also earned numerous All-American honors, including Parade.