CFL legend Henry Burris named acting head coach at Florida A&M University

Photo: Florida A&M University. Photo edit: 3DownNation.

Henry Burris has been named the acting head coach at Florida A&M University after the firing of James Colzie III.

The 50-year-old native of Spiro, Okla. joined the school’s coaching staff in 2024 as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. His son, Armand, is a redshirt freshman receiver who caught 17 passes for 222 yards and two touchdown in 2025.

Florida A&M went 5-7 this season, which saw Colzie III finish his two-year head coaching tenure with a record of 12-12. The Rattlers went 12-1 in 2023, winning a Conference Championship over Prairie View A&M and the Celebration Bowl over Howard University.

“Excellence is the standard that extends across every aspect of our institution — from academics and research to athletics and community engagement,” said Florida A&M president Marva B. Johnson in a statement.

“As the nation’s top public HBCU, we are committed to operational excellence in everything we do. Our football program and all Rattler sports are critical drivers of university pride, student recruitment, alumni engagement, and institutional momentum. Success on the field elevates our entire university, creates economic opportunity for our region, and inspires the next generation of Rattler scholars and leaders.

“This leadership transition reflects our commitment building on the proud legacy of FAMU athletics and its storied superstars, while transforming our programs to meet the demands of today’s collegiate landscape—including competing in a dynamic recruiting environment shaped by NIL opportunities — and positioning FAMU at the championship level our community deserves.”

Burris got his first coaching job with the Chicago Bears in 2020 as a seasonal assistant. He returned to the team in 2021 as an offensive quality control coach, then became an offensive quality control coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2023, he coached the tight ends during training camp with the Los Angeles Rams.

The six-foot-one, 190-pound passer played 294 career regular-season CFL games with the Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Ottawa Redblacks. 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. He won three Grey Cups and two Grey Cup MVP awards.

Florida A&M competes at the FCS level of NCAA Division I in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).