CAREER

Pro path

Calgary signed Burris as a free agent on Feb. 25, 2005. He originally joined the Stamps out of Temple in May of 1997 and spent 17 weeks that season on the practice roster. He signed a free-agent deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in March of 2000. After one season with the ‘Riders, Burris joined the Green Bay Packers in 2001. He then joined the Chicago Bears in 2002 and played for the NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder in the spring of 2003 before returning to the Roughriders that summer. He remained in Saskatchewan until rejoining the Stamps in 2005.

2008

Burris started every game and helped guide a young team to a 13-5 regular-season record including the team’s first West Final and Grey Cup victories since 2001. Burris had career highs in pass attempts (591), completions (381), passing yards (5,094) and touchdowns (39). All totals were team highs since 1994. He also recorded a quarterback rating of 103.9. Burris added 595 yards rushing, second on the team. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Grey Cup after completing 28 of 37 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown. He added 79 rushing yards in the championship game. Burris was named the West Division nominee as the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Player and was a West Division all-star. He was named the team’s Presidents’ Ring recipient for the second consecutive season, making him just the fourth player to win the award back-to-back (Danny Barrett, Alondra Johnson and Jay McNeil were the others).

2007

Named Calgary's Most Outstanding Player nominee, Burris had a career season in 2007. Despite missing two games with a dislocated left shoulder and being rested in the final regular-season game, Burris led the CFL with 34 touchdown passes and had a league-best 102.0 passer rating. His 4,279 passing yards and 623 rushing yards both ranked second in the league. He also equaled a career high with five touchdown passes against Saskatchewan on Sept. 15 and repeated the feat against Winnipeg on Oct. 14. Burris had a streak of six 300-yard games and in 10 of his last 11 games he threw for more than 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. He was twice named CFL offensive player of the month (August and September).

Career highlights

Named the 2008 Grey Cup Most Valuable Player following a 22-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes. Burris completed 28 of 37 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown and added 79 yards on the ground, the second-highest rushing total ever by a Stamps player in the championship game
Won the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy in 2008 as the West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Player
Named the Stamps nominee for Most Outstanding Player in 2005, 2007 and 2008
West Division all-star quarterback in 2005 and 2008
CFL Players’ Association all-star quarterback in 2006
Named the Stamps’ Presidents’ Ring Award winner in 2007 and 2008
Named CFL offensive player of the week 11 times, 10 as a Stampeder. He was CFL offensive player of the month three times, all as a Stampeder
Sits second behind Doug Flutie in several categories on the Stamps all-time passing charts: touchdowns (123), yardage (18,727), attempts (2,105) and completions (1,277)
Led the CFL in touchdown passes in 2006 (23), 2007 (34) and was second in 2008 (39)
His 39 TD passes in 2008 represented the fourth-highest single-season total in club history
Earned his first playoff win as Saskatchewan’s starter in 2004 over Edmonton in the West Division Semi Final. Threw for 416 yards and three touchdowns the following week but lost 27-25 to BC in overtime
Started one game for the Chicago Bears in 2002 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won the Super Bowl that season
Saskatchewan’s nominee as Most Outstanding Player in 2000 after throwing for a career-high 4,647 yards and 30 touchdowns
First touchdown pass was a 63-yarder to Hall of Fame slotback Allen Pitts on July 22, 1999 against Edmonton. His first start came a week later against Montreal — a 38-17 win
Won the Grey Cup in 2008 against Montreal and also won against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1998 as Calgary’s third-string quarterback (behind Jeff Garcia and Dave Dickenson). He had the same role in 1999 when the Stamps lost to Hamilton
First career completion came on Aug. 13, 1998 against Saskatchewan — a 26-yard pass to Andre Arlain

College

In nearly four seasons as the starter at Temple University, Burris set — and still holds — nearly every school passing record, including yardage (7,495), attempts (1,136), completions (558) and touchdowns (49). His completions and attempts were Big East Conference records, but have since been surpassed. He was co-captain in his senior season and earned second-team All-Big East Conference honours.

Personal

On Mar. 18, 2009, Burris and his wife Nicole had their second baby, son Barron Grey. The couple had their first child, son Armand Jaiman in 2006. Burris holds the annual Henry Burris All-Star Weekend in support of Big Brothers and Big Sisters. He lives year-round in Calgary.

PHOTOS