Charles Burks is in his sixth NFL season and his third in Cincinnati in 2024. He again serves as the Bengals' secondary/cornerbacks coach.
In 2023, Burks worked with a young cornerbacks group that included second-year player Cam Taylor-Britt and rookie DJ Turner II. Taylor-Britt emerged as the team's top boundary corner, as he tied for the team lead with four INTs (tied for seventh in NFL) and totaled 11 PDs. Turner saw limited snaps early in his rookie campaign, but under Burks' tutelage he went on to start 12 of the team's final 13 games and recorded seven PDs, the most by a Cincinnati rookie defensive back since S Jessie Bates III (seven) in 2018.
In 2022, Burks led a cornerbacks room that played a key role in the team holding opposing passers to a league-low 58.9 completion percentage. He helped in the adjustment to the pro game for Taylor-Britt, who missed the first six games of his rookie season due to an injury but went on to start the team's final nine regular-season games and all three postseason contests. Despite veteran CB Chidobe Awuzie suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 8, Burks' unit was instrumental in the Bengals allowing just 17 TD passes (tied for third fewest in NFL).
Burks began his NFL coaching career in Miami in 2019, spending two seasons as a coaching assistant with a focus on the team's cornerbacks before being promoted to cornerbacks coach in 2021. In 2021, he helped CB Xavien Howard further establish himself as one of the game's top corners, as the sixth-year veteran tied for fourth in the NFL in INTs (five), while tying for sixth in PDs (16). Howard earned his third career Pro Bowl nod, and his second during Burks' Miami tenure.
In 2020, Howard had a Dolphins single-season record 10 INTs, which were also the most by an NFL player since 2007, to earn first-team All-Pro honors. With Burks on staff, Miami's defense led the NFL in takeaways (29) and third-down defense (31.2 percent).
Prior to his time with the Dolphins, Burks spent eight seasons in the collegiate ranks. He served as defensive coordinator at Southeastern Oklahoma State from 2014-18, overseeing a unit in '18 that led all of NCAA Division II in passing defense (118.7 yards allowed per game). That season, the Savage Storm also ranked in the top 10 nationally both in total defense (sixth; 251.2 yards allowed) and scoring defense (seventh; 15.4 points allowed).
In 2016, Burks coached CB Raheem Wilson, who led all Division II players with 24 PDs while recording five INTs to garner D-II All-America honors.
Burks coached at three schools in three seasons before Southeastern Oklahoma State, serving as secondary coach at Texas A&M-Commerce (2013), assistant secondary/cornerbacks coach at West Texas A&M (2012) and secondary coach at his alma mater, East Central University (2011).
A three-year letterman (2008-10) at East Central, located in Ada, Okla., Burks played cornerback for a Tigers team that won a Lone Star Conference North Division championship.
Burks was born in Grand Prairie, Texas. He earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a minor in sociology from East Central, where he also received a master's degree in sports administration.
Playing and coaching history: 2008-10—Played CB at East Central University (Okla.). 2011—Assistant coach (AC), East Central. 2012—AC, West Texas A&M. 2013—AC, Texas A&M-Commerce. 2014-18—Defensive coordinator, Southeastern Oklahoma State. 2019-21—AC, Miami Dolphins. 2022-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
