Will Burnham enters his third season as the assistant special teams coordinator for the Houston Texans and third season in the NFL in 2025. Burnham joined the Texans after spending two years at Kansas State, where he served as the special teams quality control coach.
In 2024, Burnham helped coach a special teams unit that ranked in the top six in the NFL in scoring (142), net punting average (44.0), kickoff return drive start average (30.4) and kickoff drive start average (29.2), making them the only team in the league to finish the season in the top six in each of those categories. Additionally, the Texans became the only team in the NFL to finish in the top eight in DVOA rankings in back-to-back seasons. K Ka'imi Fairbairn became the franchise's all-time leading scorer (873 career points) and his 13 made 50-plus yard field goals tied for the second-most in 2024 and in NFL history. Fairbairn earned two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, one of which was awarded following his 59-yard game-winner in Week 5. Fairbairn also played a big role on kickoffs, helping the team finish top 10 in opponent kickoff return average (26.8). P Tommy Townsend finished the season ranked second in the NFL in punts inside the 20 (39) and recorded the third-highest net punting average (44.0) in the league, while also helping the special teams unit finish first in the NFL in opponent punt return average (4.8). RB Dameon Pierce had success as a kickoff returner, recording a career-high nine returns for 339 yards, including a season-long 80-yard return. Pierce finished the season with a 31.4 kickoff return average, the third highest in the league. He also helped the team rank sixth in the NFL in average starting line after kickoff (30.4). Special teams' success was especially prevalent in the postseason when CB D'Angelo Ross became the first player in NFL history to record a defensive two-point conversion return in a playoff game. He also recorded a blocked punt in the contest.
In his first season with the Texans, Burnham assisted a special teams unit that led the NFL in kickoff return average (26.6) and total return touchdowns (three – two KR and one PR). The special teams unit finished top-10 in the league in 15 statistical categories, including top-5 in opponent punt return average, kick return drive start average, takeaways and field goals made, while also being just one-of-five teams who did not surrender a blocked kick or turnover. The achievements on the field resulted in the unit finishing first in the prestigious Rick Gosselin's 2023 NFL Special Teams Rankings, marking the second consecutive season earning the honor. Fairbairn had a productive season, connecting on 27-of-28 field goal attempts, including a game-winning 54-yard field goal in overtime in Week 15 at Tennessee. Burnham and RB Dare Ogunbowale became a part of NFL history after he connected on a 29-yard field goal, becoming the third non-kicker since 1980 to make a field goal in a regular season game. In the Divisional game at Baltimore, WR Steven Sims recorded a 67-yard punt return touchdown, marking the first playoff punt return touchdown since 2013 and the first Texan to ever record a punt return touchdown in the postseason.
In 2022, Burnham helped the Wildcats earn a Big 12 championship as K-State ranked in the top 20 nationally in kickoff return defense (12th; 16.79), net punting (13th; 41.86), punt returns (14th; 13.21) and kickoff returns (18th; 22.97), the first program to rank in the top 20 nationally in those four units in a single season since 2002 (LSU). Additionally, K-State set school records in net punting, 50-plus yard punts (22), punts inside the 20-yard line (27) and kickoff touchbacks (51).
Ty Zentner earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a punter after his 44.5-yard average ranked second in school history, 18th nationally and second in the Big 12, which was impressive considering Zentner also served as the primary kickoff man throughout the season and took over place kicking duties the second half of the year. His biggest kick of the season was a game-winner in overtime of the 2022 Big 12 Championship.
In the return game, Phillip Brooks also picked up All-Big 12 Second Team honors and earned votes for the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year award after finishing second in the conference with 168 punt-return yards and one touchdown. The Wildcats also recorded a touchdown against South Dakota after a Seth Porter blocked punt was picked up by Desmond Purnell and returned 17 yards for a score.
In his first season in Manhattan – one that resulted in a victory over LSU in the Texas Bowl – Burnham helped scheme special teams units that led the Big 12 and tied for second in the nation with three touchdowns, which included one on a blocked punt return and two on kickoff returns. The kickoff-return unit ranked ninth in the nation with a 27.2-yard average, and the bulk of the returns were by Malik Knowles, who finished fourth nationally with a 33.1-yard average, while his two kickoff-return touchdowns ranked second as he earned Second Team All-America (Phil Steele) and First Team All-Big 12 (coaches) honors.
On the kicking side, Burnham helped devise a punting unit that was spearheaded by Zentner, who tied for fifth in school history with a 43.7-yard average en route to All-Big 12 accolades. The Wildcats also led the Big 12 in net kickoff average (43.5).
Burnham came to Manhattan after spending two seasons as a Special Teams Graduate Assistant at Virginia Tech. While in Blacksburg, Burnham helped coordinate a collective unit that ranked in the top three of the ACC both seasons in special teams efficiency, including a No. 11 national ranking in 2019. The Hokies ranked in the top five nationally in six different categories in both 2019 and 2020, the former helping Virginia Tech earn a berth into the Belk Bowl.
Burnham went to Virginia Tech after spending one season as a defensive backs graduate assistant at Marshall as the Thundering Herd earned a 9-4 record and won the 2018 Gasparilla Bowl. Burnham spent the 2016 and 2017 season as the tight ends and fullbacks coach at UT Martin as the Skyhawks picked up three FCS Top 25 victories during his two seasons.
A native of Lithia, Florida, Burnham played running back at Florida State from 2012 to 2014, helping the Seminoles become three-time ACC Champions, win the 2012 Orange Bowl and the 2013 National Championship. He then spent the 2015 season as a student assistant coach working with the running backs and special teams as FSU earned a 10-3 record and a trip to the Peach Bowl.
Burnham graduated from Florida State with a degree in marketing in December 2014, while he earned his master's degree in sport management in 2016. Burnham is married to his wife, the former Kaylan Figueroa.
