Browns FB Michael Burton: Everything you need to know about new free agent addition

**Beginnings**

Burton, age 34, grew up in Long Valley, which is a part of Washington Township, New Jersey, but unincorporated in Morris County. He was a four-year starter at running back for West Morris Central High School’s football team. He started playing as a young kid and played quarterback and running back. As a senior, Burton rushed for 1,769 yards on 200 carries and scored 20 touchdowns. He was also very involved in the passing attack and scored an additional seven TDs. He also returned kickoffs. West Morris won the state championship that year. ***At season’s end, Burton’s accolades:***

• State champion
• First team All-State
• First Team All-Group III
• *Star-Ledger* Morris County Player of the Year
• *Daily Record* Player of the Year
• MVP of the state title game
• Set 10 school season and career records His parents are Peter and Adrianna Burton, with a sister, Lyndsay. His father was a standout running back at Susquehanna University. Lyndsay played college basketball at Johns Hopkins University and was named an All-American in 2010. Burton is married to Kirsten with two daughters and a son. The couple is Christian. Despite his impressive statistics in high school, plus all of the accolades, Burton received plenty of offers from Lehigh, Maine, Monmouth, New Hampshire, Towson State, Delaware, and Temple. He had unofficial visits with Syracuse and Pitt, but no significant D-1 offers. He wanted to be involved in D-1 and accepted an offer to walk on at Rutgers. Burton ended up starting 24 of the 30 games in which he appeared. His parents moved to be close to him during his college career.

  

  While at Rutgers, they switched him to a hybrid tight end/fullback position, and instead of sitting, he played. In his sophomore year, he was on the starting offense as the team’s fullback. His role was to block and catch passes. A knee injury ended his season. He came back in his junior and senior years with a vengeance. He was viewed as a throwback fullback and a punishing blocker who would get carries on occasion and be involved in the passing game. He ran the 40 in 4.65. Burton was well-known for the importance of a work ethic. He took it very seriously. He became a film junky. He practiced hard: lifting, running, and the usual sort of stuff.

**On to the NFL**

The Detroit Lions selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft as a fullback/tight end. His versatility was key. Nothing individual, no personal goals. It was all about the team and winning a championship. Burton (6’-0”, 247 pounds) signed a contract worth $2.46 million with a $184,356 signing bonus. He came to the rookie mini-camp with enthusiasm and was excited to get out there and learn the playbook in order to start to become a better football player. He was used sparingly for his two seasons in Detroit, mainly on special teams. In May of 2017, he was waived and claimed by the Chicago Bears. Same job duties, same plan for him, same waiting around for his opportunity, and after another two seasons working mainly as a blocking back, he was released. Burton then had stints with the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Saints again, Kansas City Chiefs, and finally the Denver Broncos for the past two years, although he missed the entire 2025 season due to injury. The most rushing attempts he has had in a season were eight, while the most passing receptions were 10.