Former NFL LB Vontaze Burfict Joins UNLV as Defensive Analyst for 2025 CFB Season

Former NFL linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who spent seven years with the Cincinnati Bengals and one year with the then-Oakland Raiders, has joined UNLV as a defensive analyst for the 2025 college football season.

Burfict is listed on the team's official coaching roster as of Thursday afternoon.

Burfict last played for the Raiders in 2019. He started each of their first four games, recording 18 combined tackles and one pass defended. 

In the Raiders' Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts, Burfict was at the center of another controversy for an illegal hit. He appeared to lead with his head while going after Colts tight end Jack Doyle, who was falling to the ground after making a catch. 

The officials called an unnecessary roughness penalty and ejected Burfict from the game. The NFL later suspended him for the remainder of the season. He was officially reinstated on Dec. 30, 2019, but he went unsigned.

Per Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti, Burfict lost $5.3 million in earnings from fines and suspensions throughout his career.

Speaking to NFL.com's Tom Pelissero in March 2020, Burfict vowed to change as he sought another chance to play in the league. 

Now 34 years old and more than five years removed from his last NFL snap, Burfict will turn to the coaching ranks in hopes of jumpstarting a new phase of his career.