November 25, 2025 • 8 mins
Outside linebacker Brian Burns speaks to the media Tuesday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Obviously, it's the first time we've talked to you since
the game and since Shane was let go.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
How did you hear that news? What are your thoughts
about that news?
Speaker 3 (00:10):
I heard about it. Uh, I was at the crib.
I think Holland called me. Holland called me and told me.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Your reaction.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
You know, man, it was a bummer, you know that
we had to let Shane go. I wish we could
have got it done for him, you know, put together
some good weeks, you know, towards the end of the season.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
That would have been nice. You know, But I've been.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Through this before, so I know how when the head
coach get fired, you know, shortly after, a lot of
things start to fall apart. But you know that's just
the nature of the business. But you know, I wish
Shane the best. But we have to move on and
we have to prepare for this week against the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
When day night Ball you mentioned it was a bummer.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Why was it a bummer and were you surprised by
this at all?
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Just a bummer because you know, I like Shane, you know,
and I worked worked with him this whole year, you know,
being a leader that this well and last year, but
being a leader of the defense, you know, we had
to develop a certain relationship. So you know, that's why
I was a bummer. But like I just said, like
it's the nature of the business. Like you know, once
you have that that first fire, the things start to
you know, kind of happen from there. I've seen it before,
(01:19):
so you know, it's not like a crazy shocker, but
it's just, you know, it's tough sometimes, you know, having
that relationship with with with somebody for so long and
then they just leave, you know.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You know Charlie Bulling pretty well, he's your you know,
you're in his room right what He's never cold plays
in the NFL before?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
What makes you think he can do it? Uh? Charge
a smart coach.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I feel like he's been around a lot, you know,
he has a lot of experience. He was under a
great tree, you know, and just you know, talking ball
with him every day, watching extensive film with him every day.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
You know, I picked up on his football knowledge.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
So I think it's a good you know, but I
feel like on our deep as a staff, we could
have really went either way. All our coaches are you know,
experienced and you know, are very smart. So I feel
like we could have went either way, but you know,
they chose Charlie, and I'm grateful for that because.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Me and him have a very very tight relationship.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
So just one last thing, I know there's other people there.
They could have gone a different way. There were guys
on the staff who have been defensive coordinators before. We
surprised one of them was not picked.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Uh No, I wouldn't really surprised. Like I said, we
could have went either way. I wouldn't been mad with
any other choices. But I'm just a little bit more
grateful because Charlie has been in my room for two years.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
So, you know, good, thank you Evan Barnes, Hey ro.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
If you could.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
I'm just you know, you and Charlie had that very
tight relationship, like what is he you know, what is
he like as a coach working with him, and just
kind of what is he brought out of you?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
And that really hold my back of room. Really, I
feel like he really brought out the best in all
of us, so to speak. I feel like Tims was
playing his best ball he's played since he's been there. Uh,
I've been playing the best ball in my career, you know,
from uh from a Russian standpoint, from a dropping standpoint,
(03:10):
you know, really just understanding the entire defense.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So I really feel like he's getting the best out
of us.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
But other than that, like Charlie is the guy that's
gonna shoot it straight to you, not really gonna sugar
sugar coat much. And yeah, he's just gonna demand demand
your best because he's gonna give you his So.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
All right, and then obviously you guys have looked at
the tape now and again obviously you know the fourth
quarter again just was another another disappointment for you guys
when how how do you process these fourth quarters? What
happens in these fourth courters? Like why do you think
it just seems to be that you guys played well
to the fourth and then just not able to get
that closing stop.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You as wont just the critical moments.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
You know, it's one play here, one play there, and
you know what, a guy like Gibbs couldn't give him
much room because he has that home run speed that
can really hurt you, which which he showed us. So uh,
you know, you gotta be tight on all cylinders playing
a guy like that dynamic, So you know that's what
we feeled in that in that uh, in that aspect
of those critical downs, and that's what we have to
(04:10):
be better at.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
So thank you thieve.
Speaker 6 (04:14):
Why know, hey, Brian, I know you guys just started
preparing for the Patriots. But what have you seen sort
of out of Drake May and what makes him such
a tough quarterback.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
To play against him?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh, he's talented, talented arm I'm not really too sure
yet about his uh how quick he is to process everything,
but I do feel like he makes the right place
at the right time. He does seem to bit poison
maybe a little bit too, maybe a little bit too
poison in the in the in the pocket, but just overall,
(04:43):
he's he's been showing his talent for sure.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
What do you mean about about two poison? Folks have
said that about Jackson Dart a little bit too. Maybe
there's a little bit of a how do you sort
of exploit that as a defender?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Really just getting to him getting his blind spots, like
his backside, Like I feel like at times he's so
caught up in you know, making the right play or
you know, getting so caught up in his routes down field,
he just forgets about somewhat of what who's rushing them.
If that makes sense, Like what I mean by poison,
It could be a bad thing, could be a good thing.
But what I mean by poison that he takes his time,
(05:16):
that he makes the right reads, and you know, he
tries to make the right play. It can also bite
you in the butt at a certain amount of times
if you know you got edge rushers coming and you're
not really too kinditive of where they are.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
We'll take two more Art Stapleton.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Ay Burns, what's going.
Speaker 7 (05:36):
You had talked earlier this year about the need for
the players to kind of take ownership of the defense.
What you were guys trying to do being heard? Is
this another opportunity now where you know, Kafka kind of
talked about having a clean slate for Charlie to kind
of get in there with the coaches and the players.
Do you feel like you guys can kind of take
(05:57):
even more ownership of the defense right here down the
stretch of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, I mean, man, look, we got five left.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Kind of like I guess if you want to look
at it as a clean slate, you can, well we
got five left, five guaranteed, and that's that's all We're
gonna get so, I mean, why not is that just
the end of the season, all the goals that you
wanted to hit, you know that you had penciled out
before the season.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Why not go out there and give it all you
got to get get to it. So if you want
to look at as a clean slate, you can.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I mean I kind of been looking at the back
half of the season, as you know, often to go
all out, regardless of our record, of regardless of whatever
we eliminated, whatever, it don't really matter to me. What
it only matters like when I'm between the white lines
and the film that I put out there. So that's
kind of what I'm focused on and what I'm trying to,
you know, reiterate to the guys.
Speaker 7 (06:46):
I guess I guess I meant even more so than that,
they're just schematically like, are there things that you guys
see in the film and say, you know what, why
don't we try this? Why don't we change this? Not
necessarily wiping out, you know, the season, but looking at
the defense, maybe it's an opportunity for you guys to
kind of change some things up that that maybe previously
(07:06):
you maybe somebody wouldn't speak up or the coaches were
kind of you know, look, it's the defensive coordinator has
been here all year. He might not change things, but
now things are changing in front of you.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I don't think the plays or the calls are going
to change too dramatically, too drastically, I mean, honestly, because
we're in week thirteen now.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But we're still early in the week.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
We haven't really gotten to the schematics of how we're
going to attack the Patriots yet. But I do see
maybe some small things changes just because it's a new guy,
you know, calling the plays, and he has his own
things that he's convicted by.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
So I mean, you just have to wait to see. Gotcha.
Thanks man.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Last one Peter's Pondorio.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
Hey, Brian, you mentioned, you know, this being the best
season of your career at this point. I'm interested to
know if there's anything about Charlie's process or anything he
said that's really clicked for you, that has contributed to that.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Remember, he gotten to that point. We've had many talks.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
The only thing I can think of think of off
the top of my head right now is, you know,
he said, to do something you haven't done, you have
to do something you haven't done, So I mean that's
essentially talking about my process. I really feel like he
helped my process out a lot, you know, just from
watching film to you know, what I do with my
body and just the intentionality that I put in everything
(08:28):
that that I'm trying to get towards, you know what
I mean. So, you know, we've had multiple talks about
like about my play and where he sees it and
you know, he shoots it straight, so you know, that's
all I can ask asks from him, and that's what
I appreciate
Obviously, it's the first time we've talked to you since
the game and since Shane was let go.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
How did you hear that news? What are your thoughts
about that news?
Speaker 3 (00:10):
I heard about it. Uh, I was at the crib.
I think Holland called me. Holland called me and told me.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Your reaction.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
You know, man, it was a bummer, you know that
we had to let Shane go. I wish we could
have got it done for him, you know, put together
some good weeks, you know, towards the end of the season.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
That would have been nice. You know, But I've been.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Through this before, so I know how when the head
coach get fired, you know, shortly after, a lot of
things start to fall apart. But you know that's just
the nature of the business. But you know, I wish
Shane the best. But we have to move on and
we have to prepare for this week against the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
When day night Ball you mentioned it was a bummer.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Why was it a bummer and were you surprised by
this at all?
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Just a bummer because you know, I like Shane, you know,
and I worked worked with him this whole year, you know,
being a leader that this well and last year, but
being a leader of the defense, you know, we had
to develop a certain relationship. So you know, that's why
I was a bummer. But like I just said, like
it's the nature of the business. Like you know, once
you have that that first fire, the things start to
you know, kind of happen from there. I've seen it before,
(01:19):
so you know, it's not like a crazy shocker, but
it's just, you know, it's tough sometimes, you know, having
that relationship with with with somebody for so long and
then they just leave, you know.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You know Charlie Bulling pretty well, he's your you know,
you're in his room right what He's never cold plays
in the NFL before?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
What makes you think he can do it? Uh? Charge
a smart coach.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I feel like he's been around a lot, you know,
he has a lot of experience. He was under a
great tree, you know, and just you know, talking ball
with him every day, watching extensive film with him every day.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
You know, I picked up on his football knowledge.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
So I think it's a good you know, but I
feel like on our deep as a staff, we could
have really went either way. All our coaches are you know,
experienced and you know, are very smart. So I feel
like we could have went either way, but you know,
they chose Charlie, and I'm grateful for that because.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Me and him have a very very tight relationship.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
So just one last thing, I know there's other people there.
They could have gone a different way. There were guys
on the staff who have been defensive coordinators before. We
surprised one of them was not picked.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Uh No, I wouldn't really surprised. Like I said, we
could have went either way. I wouldn't been mad with
any other choices. But I'm just a little bit more
grateful because Charlie has been in my room for two years.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
So, you know, good, thank you Evan Barnes, Hey ro.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
If you could.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
I'm just you know, you and Charlie had that very
tight relationship, like what is he you know, what is
he like as a coach working with him, and just
kind of what is he brought out of you?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
And that really hold my back of room. Really, I
feel like he really brought out the best in all
of us, so to speak. I feel like Tims was
playing his best ball he's played since he's been there. Uh,
I've been playing the best ball in my career, you know,
from uh from a Russian standpoint, from a dropping standpoint,
(03:10):
you know, really just understanding the entire defense.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So I really feel like he's getting the best out
of us.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
But other than that, like Charlie is the guy that's
gonna shoot it straight to you, not really gonna sugar
sugar coat much. And yeah, he's just gonna demand demand
your best because he's gonna give you his So.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
All right, and then obviously you guys have looked at
the tape now and again obviously you know the fourth
quarter again just was another another disappointment for you guys
when how how do you process these fourth quarters? What
happens in these fourth courters? Like why do you think
it just seems to be that you guys played well
to the fourth and then just not able to get
that closing stop.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You as wont just the critical moments.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
You know, it's one play here, one play there, and
you know what, a guy like Gibbs couldn't give him
much room because he has that home run speed that
can really hurt you, which which he showed us. So uh,
you know, you gotta be tight on all cylinders playing
a guy like that dynamic, So you know that's what
we feeled in that in that uh, in that aspect
of those critical downs, and that's what we have to
(04:10):
be better at.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
So thank you thieve.
Speaker 6 (04:14):
Why know, hey, Brian, I know you guys just started
preparing for the Patriots. But what have you seen sort
of out of Drake May and what makes him such
a tough quarterback.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
To play against him?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh, he's talented, talented arm I'm not really too sure
yet about his uh how quick he is to process everything,
but I do feel like he makes the right place
at the right time. He does seem to bit poison
maybe a little bit too, maybe a little bit too
poison in the in the in the pocket, but just overall,
(04:43):
he's he's been showing his talent for sure.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
What do you mean about about two poison? Folks have
said that about Jackson Dart a little bit too. Maybe
there's a little bit of a how do you sort
of exploit that as a defender?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Really just getting to him getting his blind spots, like
his backside, Like I feel like at times he's so
caught up in you know, making the right play or
you know, getting so caught up in his routes down field,
he just forgets about somewhat of what who's rushing them.
If that makes sense, Like what I mean by poison,
It could be a bad thing, could be a good thing.
But what I mean by poison that he takes his time,
(05:16):
that he makes the right reads, and you know, he
tries to make the right play. It can also bite
you in the butt at a certain amount of times
if you know you got edge rushers coming and you're
not really too kinditive of where they are.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
We'll take two more Art Stapleton.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Ay Burns, what's going.
Speaker 7 (05:36):
You had talked earlier this year about the need for
the players to kind of take ownership of the defense.
What you were guys trying to do being heard? Is
this another opportunity now where you know, Kafka kind of
talked about having a clean slate for Charlie to kind
of get in there with the coaches and the players.
Do you feel like you guys can kind of take
(05:57):
even more ownership of the defense right here down the
stretch of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, I mean, man, look, we got five left.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Kind of like I guess if you want to look
at it as a clean slate, you can, well we
got five left, five guaranteed, and that's that's all We're
gonna get so, I mean, why not is that just
the end of the season, all the goals that you
wanted to hit, you know that you had penciled out
before the season.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Why not go out there and give it all you
got to get get to it. So if you want
to look at as a clean slate, you can.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I mean I kind of been looking at the back
half of the season, as you know, often to go
all out, regardless of our record, of regardless of whatever
we eliminated, whatever, it don't really matter to me. What
it only matters like when I'm between the white lines
and the film that I put out there. So that's
kind of what I'm focused on and what I'm trying to,
you know, reiterate to the guys.
Speaker 7 (06:46):
I guess I guess I meant even more so than that,
they're just schematically like, are there things that you guys
see in the film and say, you know what, why
don't we try this? Why don't we change this? Not
necessarily wiping out, you know, the season, but looking at
the defense, maybe it's an opportunity for you guys to
kind of change some things up that that maybe previously
(07:06):
you maybe somebody wouldn't speak up or the coaches were
kind of you know, look, it's the defensive coordinator has
been here all year. He might not change things, but
now things are changing in front of you.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I don't think the plays or the calls are going
to change too dramatically, too drastically, I mean, honestly, because
we're in week thirteen now.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But we're still early in the week.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
We haven't really gotten to the schematics of how we're
going to attack the Patriots yet. But I do see
maybe some small things changes just because it's a new guy,
you know, calling the plays, and he has his own
things that he's convicted by.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
So I mean, you just have to wait to see. Gotcha.
Thanks man.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Last one Peter's Pondorio.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
Hey, Brian, you mentioned, you know, this being the best
season of your career at this point. I'm interested to
know if there's anything about Charlie's process or anything he
said that's really clicked for you, that has contributed to that.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Remember, he gotten to that point. We've had many talks.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
The only thing I can think of think of off
the top of my head right now is, you know,
he said, to do something you haven't done, you have
to do something you haven't done, So I mean that's
essentially talking about my process. I really feel like he
helped my process out a lot, you know, just from
watching film to you know, what I do with my
body and just the intentionality that I put in everything
(08:28):
that that I'm trying to get towards, you know what
I mean. So, you know, we've had multiple talks about
like about my play and where he sees it and
you know, he shoots it straight, so you know, that's
all I can ask asks from him, and that's what
I appreciate
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.