Photo: The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER — The CFL’s highlight-reel machine is staying in the den. The BC Lions announce that wide receiver Bryan Burnham has agreed to a contract extension with the club.
“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to stay with the only organization I’ve ever known,” said Burnham from his home in Tulsa.
“This is the best situation for my wife Aubrey and I to continue to be involved in the community. We also still have unfinished business in BC with the goal to bring the Grey Cup back to the West Coast.”
Burnham has broken the 1,000-yard receiving mark in four of his last five seasons. He just missed the mark in the shortened 2021 campaign (Photo: The Canadian Press)
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Burnham, who turns 32 before the start of training camp, first made the squad as a raw, unknown commodity in 2014.
Eight years later, he sits in fifth spot on the Lions’ all-time list with 6,616 receiving yards to go along with 435 receptions and 38 touchdowns.
A CFL All-Star in each of his last four seasons, Burnham also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark every year from 2016-2019 and racked up 965 yards in the shortened, 14-game campaign of 2021.
“Bryan epitomizes the type of players and people we want in our locker room, said co-GM/head coach Rick Campbell.
“Beyond the ability to make great plays on the field, his work ethic and ability to lead by example in practices and games puts us in a position to be successful.”
Additional Bryan Burnham Accolades:
- 96/148: Burnham has recorded at least one reception in all 96 of his career games with the Lions with 148 of his total receptions being second down conversions (34 %).
- Led the CFL with 67 receptions in 2021 while finishing second to Winnipeg’s Kenny Lawler in receiving yards (965).
- Lions’ leader in receiving yards in each of the last four seasons and second to Lucky Whitehead with 14.4 yards per catch in 2021.
- Lions’ team nominee for CFL Most Outstanding Player in 2019.
- Along with the four CFL All-Star selections, earned West Division All-Star nods in each of the last five seasons.
- Needs just 74 yards to catch Mervyn Fernandez for fourth on the Lions’ all-time list while 1,554 more yards will surpass his former teammate Emmanuel Arceneaux for third spot.
