What has perhaps overshadowed another dismal season for the New York Giants has been Brian Burns' second year in East Rutherford.
Despite the G-Men's defense being the primary catalyst for why they’ve lost so many close games this year, the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher has proven to be a worthy investment for general manager Joe Schoen, who traded for him from the Carolina Panthers during the 2024 offseason and signed him to a five-year, $141 million extension. Burns is second in the NFL with 13 sacks, already setting a new career-high.
The 27-year-old is also, however, on the verge of joining a rare company of elite Big Blue pass rushers with just six games left to play this season.
Brian Burns is making a real push toward major Giants milestone
Burns needs just seven more sacks the rest of the way to join Giants legends and Hall of Famers Michael Strahan and Lawrence Taylor as the only pass rushers in franchise history to record 20 or more in a single season.
Brian Burns needs 7 sacks in the final 6 games to reach 20 sacks on the season.
— Tommy (@TommyG105) November 18, 2025
Only other Giants to reach this rare air are Michael Strahan with 22.5 Sacks in 2001 and Lawrence Taylor with 20.5 Sacks in 1986.
Even more impressive Burns has done this on the worst defense in… pic.twitter.com/3e68YuGh2y
Taylor, who is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, recorded 20.5 sacks in 1986. As for Strahan, the Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion recorded 22.5 sacks in 2001, setting the single-season sack record in the NFL. That record would eventually be tied by Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt exactly 20 years later in 2021.
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It goes without saying that Burns has been the only bright spot for the pass rush, which entered this year with the expectations of being a top-five unit in all of football. Rookie pass rusher and third overall pick Abdul Carter has just half of a sack on the season, Kayvon Thibodeaux has recorded a mere 2.5 sacks, while Dexter Laweence (who has been heavily scrutinized this season) has only half a sack as well.
This Giants defense and season may have been another disappointment this year, but if there is one thing that fans should look forward to during these final six games of the year, it is the opportunity for Brian Burns to cement himself as a New York Giants legend in just his second season on the team.