Nate Burleson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Burleson's path to Seattle was personal: his father, Al Burleson, moved the family to Seattle after his playing career ended, and Nate attended Rainier View Elementary School there. As a mark of his father's influence, Burleson's jersey number on the Seahawks, 81, was his father's high school number. The offer sheet that brought him to Seattle was structured so that the entire $49 million would be guaranteed if Burleson played five games in one season in the state of Minnesota, or if his average per year exceeded the average of all running backs on the team combined. The Vikings played eight home games a year in Minneapolis, and at the time spent far less than $7 million per year for its entire running back corps, while Seattle was spending over $7 million a year on just one of its running backs (Shaun Alexander). The Vikings had seven days to match but declined, receiving Seattle's third-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

In Their Own Story

On September 7, 2008, the Seahawks opened their season against the Buffalo Bills. In that game, Burleson tore a ligament in his knee. The injury ended his season, as he was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the year. It was a sudden halt for a player who, in 2007, had set the Seahawk team record for most punt return yards in a single season. Despite the setback, his career punt return yards remain a Seahawk team record. Burleson is also the only player in NFL history to have three punt returns of 90 or more yards, a feat he accomplished during his time with the Vikings before joining Seattle.

Reader's Guide

He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft, the 71st overall pick, and played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack, where he earned first-team All-American honors in 2002. In his senior season at Nevada, he made 138 receptions, the second highest in NCAA history, and led the NCAA in both receiving yards and in receptions per game. After his time in Seattle, he agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract with the Detroit Lions on March 5, 2010, reuniting with his former offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. He later signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on April 6, 2014, but was cut on August 30.

Did You Know?

• Burleson owns the Seahawk team record for most punt return yards in a single season (2007) as well as career punt return yards.
• He is the only player in NFL history to have three punt returns of 90 or more yards.
• His jersey number on the Seahawks, 81, was his father Al Burleson's high school number.
• Burleson was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and sports a maple leaf tattoo, expressing pride in his Canadian citizenship.
• In his senior season at Nevada (2002), he made 138 receptions, the second highest in NCAA history.