There haven’t been many bright spots throughout the 2025 season for the New York Giants, but edge rusher Brian Burns is certainly one of them.
The former first-round pick out of Florida State is second in the league in total sacks with 13, five back from Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett.
Despite his gaudy numbers, the Giants‘ defense has been a massive disappointment this season, given all the talent they have in their front-seven.
Ultimately, it led to the firing of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, someone Burns had a lot of respect for as a coach.
“It’s just a bummer because I like Shane. I worked with him this whole year and last year. But being a leader of the defense, you know we had to develop a certain relationship so…it’s just the nature of the business,” Burns told the media at his Tuesday press conference.
Brian Burns talks about the Giants firing defensive coordinator Shane Bowen:
Brian Burns on New Defensive Coordinator Charlie Bullen
Burns’ position coach, Charlie Bullen, was promoted from outside linebackers coach to interim defensive coordinator following Bowen’s firing.
The New York Giants’ star edge rusher expressed his excitement for Bullen and believes in his ability to lead the defense.
“Charlie’s a smart coach. I feel like he’s been around a lot, he has a lot of experience. He was under a great tree. Talking ball with him every day, watching extensive film with him every day, I picked up on his football knowledge,” Burns said.
“Charlie’s a smart coach. I feel like he’s been around a lot, he has a lot of experience. He was under a great tree. Talking ball with him every day, watching
“I feel like, on our defensive staff, we could’ve really went either way. All our coaches are experienced and are very smart, so I feel like we could’ve went either way, but they chose Charlie and I’m grateful for that because me and him have a very, very tight relationship.”
Bullen will do his best to turn around one of the league’s worst defenses over the last five games of the season.
As it currently stands, the Giants rank 29th in the league in EPA/play and are dead last in stopping the run.
Bullen has his work cut out for him, and it’s not going to get any easier against New York’s next opponent.
Brian Burns on Facing Drake Maye and the Patriots
Up next for the New York Giants – the 9-2 New England Patriots, who are currently riding a nine-game winning streak and haven’t lost since September.
Big Blue will need every ounce of defensive effort they can to slow down second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who currently has the second-highest MVP odds behind Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Burns praised Maye in his press conference, while also pointing out an aspect of his game the Giants will try to exploit.
“He’s talented. Talented arm. I’m not really too sure yet about how quick he is to process everything, but I do feel like he makes the right plays at the right time. He does seem to be poised, maybe a little bit too poised, in the pocket, but just overall, he’s been showing his talent, for sure,” Burns explained.
He was then asked what he meant by “too poised.”
“I feel like, at times, he’s so caught up in making the right play or getting so caught up in his routes downfield, he just forgets about somewhat of who’s rushing him, if that makes sense.”
“He’s talented. Talented arm. I’m not really too sure yet about how quick he is to process everything, but I do feel like he makes the right plays at the right time. He does seem to be poised, maybe a little bit too poised,
“It could be a bad thing, it could be a good thing. What I mean by poised is that he takes his time, he makes the right reads and he tries to make the right play. It can also bite you in the butt at a certain amount of times if you’ve got edge rushers coming and you’re not really too cognitive of where they are.”
Burns certainly has a point. Maye is the third-most-sacked quarterback in the NFL this season, having been brought to the ground 37 times in 12 games.
New York will absolutely try to take advantage of that when they meet in Foxborough next Monday night.
Giants’ Brian Burns Opens up On Shane Bowen Firing, Drake Maye and Patriots