Before the NFL, Burfict played for the Arizona State Sun Devils from 2008 to 2011, where he recorded over 300 tackles and earned multiple All-Pac-12 honors. He declared for the 2012 NFL Draft and was selected in the second round, 59th overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals. His college production and physical style translated directly into his early NFL role as a heavy-hitting inside linebacker. Burfict's career trajectory shows a clear path from college standout to rotational NFL player, with his peak production occurring between 2014 and 2017. His time with the Bengals remains the longest and most statistically significant portion of his professional career, and his subsequent moves to the Raiders reflected declining roster value amid injury and discipline concerns.
Contract Details and Financial Impact
Vontaze Burfict's most notable contract was the four-year extension he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016, which included $22 million guaranteed and a total value reported at approximately $44 million over four years. The deal made him one of the top-paid inside linebackers in the NFL at the time, reflecting the Bengals' investment in his defensive role. His base salary increased each year of the deal, with the final year structured as a team option that was not exercised. Burfict's average annual salary under that contract was roughly $11 million, placing him in the upper tier of NFL linebackers by total compensation. After leaving Cincinnati, he signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders in 2019 for a reported base salary near $3 million, with additional incentives tied to playing time and performance metrics.
Burfict's financial career in the NFL is marked by large guaranteed money early on, followed by shorter, lower-value deals as his on-field discipline issues mounted. His 2016 extension with the Bengals remains the defining financial milestone of his career, and it is frequently referenced in discussions about NFL linebacker contracts and risk-reward evaluations. The Raiders' decision to sign him in 2019 was widely seen as a low-cost gamble, but Burfict's limited availability and subsequent release reduced the financial exposure for the team. His career earnings across all NFL teams are estimated to be in the range of $30 million to $35 million, combining base salary, bonuses, and incentives. Burfict's contract history illustrates how on-field conduct and suspensions can rapidly reduce a player's market value, even after a lucrative initial deal.
Burfict's NFL Legacy and Current Status
Vontaze Burfict's legacy in the NFL is defined as much by his penalties and suspensions as by his on-field production. He led the league in penalty yardage in multiple seasons and was suspended for several games