( VON-tez BUR-fikt; born September 24, 1990) is an American football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football at Arizona State.
Considered the most highly ranked football prospect Arizona State ever signed to a letter of intent, Burfict was recognized as an All-American in 2010 and projected an early first round pick for the 2012 NFL Draft.
However, a mediocre on-field performance and poor pre-draft workouts diminished his draft stock and he ultimately went unselected.
He was subsequently signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2012, where he played for seven seasons.
Burfict had a productive rookie season, starting 14 games and leading the team in tackles and later earned Pro Bowl honors in 2013.
Despite his production, Burfict has also incited controversy throughout his career for frequently violating player safety rules and has accumulated over $5.3 million in fines and forfeited salary.