Beyond the Flats: Morgan Burnett

In this weekly feature, we’ll take a look at what Tech’s finest are up to since leaving the Institute. This week, we focus on Morgan Burnett.

In March, Morgan Burnett announced his retirement after 10 seasons in the NFL. Drafted in the second round by the Green Bay Packers in 2010, Burnett was a stalwart on the defense and a consummate professional throughout his career. He won a Super Bowl as a rookie and started every game in which he played for the Packers (113 games), before playing for the Steelers in 2018 and the Browns in 2019. He collected 11 interceptions during his career and twice led his team in tackles (2014 and 2016).

Throughout his time in the League, Burnett made sure to make an impact off the field as well. He regularly held free football camps in his native North Clayton County and led food drives around the holidays in the Green Bay area that were sponsored by his Burnett Family Foundation. This past offseason, Burnett participated in an NFL community outreach program, visiting camps and organizations around Wisconsin with some of his fellow Packer alumni.

Burnett also served as the featured speaker for Clayton County Media Days, where he took the opportunity to stress the five “C’s” that were key to his development as a man: Consistency, Class, Character, and Clayton County. Though now living in Cobb, Burnett remains active in the Clayton County community, and encouraged the next generation to pursue their dreams but stay committed to their home as well.

Photo by Kathryn Skeean/Clayton News Daily

“It’s all about making it out of the county...and the knowledge that you gain from those experiences, bring it back and help the next person do the same thing,” he told students. “I look at it as a team effort...[keeping] that positivity going in our county.”

For Morgan Burnett, it was all about giving himself options, but never forgetting where he came from. Now 10 years on from his time on the Flats, he is working to ensure the cycle of success begins—not ends—with him.

In 2020, Burnett was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame, and he will be honored at half time during the Pitt game. Thank you Morgan and wish you the best in retirement!