The NFL is seeing one of their former players land a big time coaching job. However, fans haven’t been to happy with the decision. As news broke, many pointed to the fact that this player didn’t have the best reputation when he was in the NFL.
“How Was He Hired?” Shamed NFL Star Hired As Coach, Fans Revolt Against Decision
Mar 4, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; the microphone during the 2018 NFL Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Mar 4, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; the microphone during the 2018 NFL Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Despite the passing of time, some NFL reputations never fade. There is no one who knows that better than Vontaze Burfict:
The former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, infamous for late hits and high-profile suspensions, is stepping into a new role. UNLV football just hired him as a defensive analyst under head coach Dan Mullen. It’s his first coaching job since his last NFL snap with the Oakland Raiders in 2019. Burfict, now 34, hasn’t officially retired, but years of concussions and injuries have made a comeback unlikely.
Burfict reunites with interim defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who coached him with both the Bengals and Raiders. For UNLV, it’s a big-name hire. For many football fans, it’s not something good.
The reaction online came fast and loud.
CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli cracked, “Take the over on UNLV personal fouls in 2025, y’all.”
Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) reacts to a defensive stop in the fourth quarter during the Week 15 NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Bengals won 24-14, improving to 11-3 on the season. © Kareem Elgazzar, Cincinnati Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) reacts to a defensive stop in the fourth quarter during the Week 15 NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Bengals won 24-14, improving to 11-3 on the season. © Kareem Elgazzar, Cincinnati Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Another fan wrote, “Nice, he can teach them the fine art of head hunting.”
Others didn’t mince words. “If anyone should not be teaching young men how to play football, it’s Vontaze Burfict,” one user posted.
His track record explains the skepticism. In the 2016 playoffs, Burfict drilled Steelers star Antonio Brown with a helmet-to-helmet shot. The hit knocked Brown out of the game and earned Burfict a three-game suspension. Steelers tackle Marcus Gilbert called it “pathetic” at the time, saying,“A guy like that, going out there intentionally trying to hurt people… there’s no need for that.”
Ben Roethlisberger later recalled Burfict pointing at wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after the Brown hit and telling him, “You’re next.” Even Bengals teammate A.J. Green labeled the play “dirty” the following year.
Burfict’s reputation followed him to Oakland. In 2019, he leveled Colts tight end Jack Doyle with another helmet-to-helmet hit. Officials ejected him on the spot. The NFL then suspended him for the rest of the season, citing his “continued” abuse of safety rules.
Mar 2, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL Network microphones are seen during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL Network microphones are seen during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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