Jacob Burney joined the Redskins coaching staff on Jan. 21, 2010.
Burney spent seven seasons working under current Redskins executive vice president/head coach Mike Shanahan in Denver (2002-08), following stints with Carolina (1999-2001) and Cleveland/Baltimore (1994-98).
“Jacob brings a great background of mentoring defensive linemen and helping them reach their fullest potential,” Shanahan said. “He will play a big part in preparing this team to play in one of the most physical conferences in the NFL.”
During the course of Burney’s seven years in Denver, the Broncos allowed the 10th-fewest yards and 12th-fewest rushing yards in the NFL. They ranked in the top five in rush defense three times during that span.
In 2007, Burney’s group recorded nine takeaways (seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions), which led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL among defensive lines.
He was instrumental in the development of 2006 fourth-round draft pick Elvis Dumervil, who recorded 26 sacks over his first three seasons, including 12.5 in 2007, his first year as a starter. That total was sixth in the league and Dumervil’s four takeaways tied for the most among NFL defensive linemen.
Burney coached defensive ends in 2006 when Denver was one of just three NFL clubs to have a trio of defensive ends register at least six sacks.
In 2005, Denver finished 13-3 en route to an AFC West division title, thanks in large part to a run defense that surrendered just 85.2 yards per game, the second-best mark in the NFL. Twice that season the Broncos allowed opponents less than 20 yards rushing in a game.
Burney’s 2004 defensive line helped the Denver defense rank fourth overall and fourth against the run. Defensive end Reggie Hayward racked up a career high 10.5 sacks, a figure that ranked third in the AFC that season.
The year prior, in 2003, Denver also ranked fourth in the league in overall defense, while defensive end Bertrand Berry racked up a career-high 11.5 sacks and fellow defensive ends Hayward and Trevor Pryce had 8.5 apiece. Pryce was a Pro Bowl selection in 2002 in leading a defense that finished sixth overall in the league and fourth against the run.
In Burney’s final two seasons in Carolina (2000-01), the Panthers registered 74 takeaways, which was the fourth-highest total in the league over that period. In 2001, defensive end Mike Rucker registered a career-high and team-leading nine sacks.
Before joining Carolina, Burney spent five seasons with Cleveland/Baltimore as defensive line coach.
In his first year with the Browns in 1994, he oversaw a defensive line that helped their defense surrender only 204 points (12.75 per game), nine rushing touchdowns and 3.6 yards per rush attempt.
In his final season with the franchise, in Baltimore in 1998, Burney helped develop defensive end Michael McCrary into a Pro Bowl starter, while the defense ranked sixth in the league.
Before entering the professional coaching ranks, Burney spent 11 years coaching on the college level, including stops at New Mexico (1983-86), Tulsa (1987), Mississippi State (1988), Wisconsin (1989), UCLA (1990-92) and Tennessee (1993). He coached the defensive line at each stop, except for Mississippi State where he tutored the inside linebackers.
Burney was a three-time All-Southern Conference selection at Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1981. A native of Chattanooga, Burney was born Jan. 24, 1959.
He and his wife, Madrinna Patton, have two sons: Jacob, who was a four-year letter winner at Bucknell (2002-05) and Benjamin, who was an honorable mention All-Big XII cornerback as a senior at Colorado this past season.
