2004: With Tampa Bay Burns appeared on special teams in all 16 contests. Saw first action as a Buccaneer at Washington (9/12), playing primarily on special teams. Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles against the Redskins. Played on special teams against Seattle (9/19), posting one tackle. Saw action on special teams at Oakland (9/26), recording two tackles. Notched one special teams tackle against Denver (10/3). Appeared on special teams at New Orleans (10/10). Posted one special teams tackle at St. Louis (10/18). Led team with three special teams tackles against Chicago (10/24). Posted a forced fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half against the Bears. Recorded two tackles on special teams against Kansas City (11/7). Notched two special teams tackles at Atlanta (11/14). Led the team with three special teams tackles vs. San Francisco (11/21). Posted one special teams tackle at Carolina (11/28). Recorded two special teams stops against Atlanta (12/5). Notched one special teams stop at San Diego (12/12). Appeared on special teams against New Orleans (12/19). Recorded one special teams tackle vs. Carolina (12/26) and at Arizona (1/2).

2003: Burns—voted special teams captain by his teammates—saw action in all 16 games and posted 24 special teams tackles to lead the team for the fourth time in his career (1996, ’98, ’00). He also tied for the lead in 1995 and 2001. Burns was especially effective during the second half of the season, posting 16 special teams tackles in the final eight games. He also saw limited action on defense (vs. S.D., 11/16, vs. Chi., 11/23 and at G.B., 12/28) and made four solo tackles. In the opener at Cin. (9/7), Burns served as special teams captain and posted a season-high three stops. He was special teams captain again in Wk. 3 vs. Oak. (9/22). In Wk. 6 vs. Pit. (10/12), he made a special teams tackle and served as special teams captain. In Wk. 7 at Min. (10/19), Burns matched his season high with three special teams tackles, and was named special teams captain the following week at Balt. (10/26). The next week vs. N.E. (11/3) he recorded his third game on the season with three special teams tackles while again serving as special teams captain. Burns recorded two more special teams tackles against S.D. (11/16), while seeing his first defensive action and making a solo tackle. He saw defensive action again vs. Chi. (11/23), tallying two solo tackles, while adding two special teams stops. The following week at Oak. (11/30) he matched his season high with three special teams tackles for the fourth time on the season. He went on to record two more stops in each of the next two games: vs. K.C. (12/7) and vs. Cle. (12/14). In the final game of the season at G.B. (12/28), Burns made two special teams stops and saw action from scrimmage, recording one solo tackle.

2002: Burns -- voted by his teammates as special teams captain and the club's nominee for the Ed Block Courage Award-saw action on special teams in all 16 games and ranked fourth on the team with 12 special teams tackles, as well as a forced fumble and a blocked punt. Burns started at middle linebacker at S.D. (12/1) and made one solo tackle, but played only on special teams after the first series. He blocked a Dan Stryzinski punt in overtime at K.C. (10/20) to set up Jason Elam's game-winning field goal. Burns also played from scrimmag