So, is this now Brian Burns’ defense?
“That’s how I’m kinda looking at it,’’ Burns said Tuesday night. “It’s kind of a nod to what I’ve done and the success that I’ve had, but I don’t take that lightly at all, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.’’
The Giants defense no longer has Dexter Lawrence anchoring the middle of the line, and that turn of events caused Burns a measure of consternation. Back on April 15, he told The Post, “Speaking for me, the Giants ain’t the Giants without No. 97 in the middle. That’s my boy. I don’t want to play this season or any other season without him.’’
Burns forced a smile when reminded of that comment. Five days after he said it, the Giants traded Lawrence to the Bengals. Burns will play this season without him.
“Man, I’ve been in this league long enough to understand ‘next man up’ whenever somebody leaves,’’ Burns said. “I was just really going to bat for my teammate.
“He made a decision. It already happened. We kinda got to live with it. Of course I don’t want to play without him because that’s my friend, along with he’s a great player, but we got some things out of it, and we just got to move on.’’
The Giants received the No. 10 pick in the 2026 draft in the deal and selected offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, who is expected to start at right guard.
That transaction leaves Burns as the only team captain from 2025 on defense to return (Lawrence and Bobby Okereke are gone), and after only two years in Giants blue, Burns is the longest-tenured starter on defense.
“Wow, I am,’’ Burns said. “That’s crazy.’’
As proof of the respect Burns commands in the locker room, several Giants teammates — including quarterback Jaxson Dart — showed up for him at the New York Hilton Midtown. Burns has not been around long, but he is ingrained in the Giants culture and community. Burns was honored as the Giants’ Hometown Hero at the 33rd Annual Gridiron Gala, a partnership between United Way of New York City and the Giants and Jets. This year’s event shed light on the city’s affordability crisis.
Burns, 28, is coming off a huge season for the Giants, starting all 17 games (for the second straight year) and registering a career-high 16.5 sacks. He also posted career highs in tackles for loss (22) and quarterback hits (31), often benefiting from the frequent double-team blocks Lawrence commanded at nose tackle.
Lawrence is gone, but Arvell Reese is on the scene. The Giants used the No. 5 pick to add the imposing (6-foot-4, 241-pound) inside linebacker, and Burns is just getting to know the rookie.
“I got to see him in person, see his size, I really like his mentality,’’ Burns said. “I really like what he said in the media, and I kinda know it’s not fluff when he said he’d rather be seen than heard. That speaks volumes as a rookie. I really appreciate that.
“I will test his temperature the more I’m around him. We haven’t got the chance to talk too much. He does carry that kinda business-minded persona, so as a rookie, I feel that’s important. He’s trying to show the vets he’s about his business, and he’s gonna come in to work.’’
Burns has made a significant impact on and off the field in his two years with the Giants. His Brian Burns Family Charities is a philanthropic organization that operates through three foundations: Hype 4 Life (dedicated to raising awareness about autism spectrum disorder), the Big Brothers United Foundation (working to empower, uplift and nurture at-risk youth in underserved communities) and the Route #53 Dawg Rescue Foundation (committed to rescuing abused and neglected dogs and pairing them with loving homes).
Burns and his mother, before the holidays last year, also visited Barack Obama Community School in Jersey City, and for the past two years, he helped the Giants celebrate 10 championship girls flag football teams from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
“I’ve only been here two years. It’s just to let people know, let people into what I’m passionate about and let them understand I’ve got a lot more coming,’’ Burns said. “Wherever I go, I want to touch the community in some type of way and make an impact somehow.’’
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
