Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress is an American former professional football wide receiver who played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

He carved out a prolific career catching passes for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants. He won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Plaxico Antonio Burress was born on August 12, 1977, in Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America. The towering wide receiver stands 196 cm tall, and played at a listed weight of 105 kg.

He attended Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was a multi-sport star who excelled in both football and basketball. After spending a post-graduate year at Fork Union Military Academy, Burress committed to Michigan State University, playing for the Spartans from 1998 to 1999.

While in college, he earned First-team All-Big Ten honors and establishing himself as one of the most dominant outside receivers in college football.

Professional Playing Career

Burress was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round (8th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft.

He spent his first five professional seasons in Pittsburgh, developing into a premier deep threat and an essential target for the Steelers' offense.

In 2005, Burress signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the New York Giants. Operating as Eli Manning's primary perimeter weapon, he helped elevate the Giants' offense to new heights.

His defining career moment arrived in Super Bowl XLII with the New England Patriots.

His time in New York was cut short following a highly publicized off-the-field incident in 2008. After serving nearly two years in prison due to weapons charges, Burress demonstrated remarkable resilience by returning to the NFL in 2011, signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets and catching eight touchdown passes.

He finished his professional playing career back where it started, spending the 2012 and 2013 seasons as a veteran presence for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He retired with 553 career receptions, 8,499 receiving yards, and 64 touchdowns.

Coaching and Off the Field

Following his retirement as a player, Burress spent time exploring coaching opportunities. In 2017, he served as a coaching intern for the Arizona Cardinals under head coach Bruce Arians, mentoring younger receivers on route leverage and red-zone techniques.

Off the field, Burress has navigated significant adversity and successfully transitioned into a focused post-football life in New Jersey.

Career Highlights

• Super Bowl XLII Champion – New York Giants
• 2002 – Posted a career-high 1,325 receiving yards with the Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1999 – First-team All-Big Ten selection (Michigan State)