Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee Henry Burris has been hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida A&M University.
“Having to try and fill the huge void that was left by Coach Simmons departure, I felt it was important to get someone who could step in right away and gel with our offensive staff,” said head coach James Colzie III in a statement. “We needed to make sure we hit the mark on this hire and Coach Burris fits right in with everything we are trying to do.”
Burris helped coach the tight ends with the Los Angeles Rams during training camp this past season as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He also served as an offensive quality control coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 after serving in a similar capacity with the Chicago Bears in 2020 and 2021.
The 48-year-old native of Spiro, Okla. played 294 career CFL games with the Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Ottawa Redblacks and won three Grey Cups. He threw for 63,639 yards, 373 touchdowns, and 227 interceptions and remains the third-leading passer in league history.
Burris was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2010 and 2015 and was a first-ballot inductee into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
“Joining the Florida A&M University staff isn’t just about football; it’s about FAMUly,” said Burris. “My wife, Nicole, and our boys, Armand and Barron, are thrilled to embark on this journey together. FAMU stands as a benchmark program and institution, renowned for its impact on both academics and athletics throughout history. We look forward to helping continue this trajectory, contributing our passion and expertise to uphold the legacy that has inspired so many. Together, we’re excited to contribute, grow, and build lasting connections as we embark on this new chapter with the Rattlers.”
Colzie has coached in Canada previously, serving as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Simon Fraser University in 2013, the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of British Columba in 2015, and the head coach at Saint Mary’s University from 2016 to 2021.
Florida A&M competes at the FCS level of NCAA Division I in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The team went 11-1 this past season under head coach Willie Simmons, who has since moved on to become the running backs coach at Duke University.
