Players

 It’s no secret that Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith signs very few veteran free agents, so it shows just how the Chargers feel about former Dallas Cowboys inside linebacker Kevin Burnett, whom they signed to a two-year deal in March. In Dallas, Burnett was a dynamic special teams player and linebacker in the same 3-4 defense that the Chargers run here in San Diego. A native of Los Angeles, Burnett was excited for the opportunity to return to Southern California after leaving to attend college at the University of Tennessee and then spending his first four seasons in Texas.

  Burnett has a unique hobby. He competitively races remote-controlled cars throughout Southern California. He does so at the Revelation Raceway in Ontario and at Thunder Alley in Beaumont. In Dallas, Burnett had a hobby room in the family’s home and even recruited several of his Cowboys teammates to race with him. It started when his wife, Maia, bought him a couple of cars for Christmas and has grown to a racing garage that now is home to 20-plus cars. Kevin also has an extensive collection of Air Jordans, owning more than 75 pairs of the basketball shoes made famous by Michael Jordan.

  Together, Kevin and Maia oversee the Kevin Burnett Foundation, which supports literacy and education. It offers educational opportunities for lower income families and a mentor element for children who have grown up in single-parent homes. The foundation has worked with children and families in Dallas and Los Angeles and will extend to San Diego now that Kevin is playing for the Chargers.

  Other hobbies of Burnetts include spending time with sons, Kamurhan and Kevin III, and reading and writing. He enjoys reading the Bible and is currently authoring two marriage books for young couples.

  Kevin is not the lone athlete in the Burnett family. Younger brother, Kealin, is a starting linebacker at the University of Nevada.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Second-round pick by Dallas (42), April 23, 2005...signed July 30, 2005...signed two-year contract with Chargers, March 12, 2009.

 2009: Led the team in week 3 with 14 tackles and a sack against the Dolphins. Returning in the starting lineup after suffering  an ankle injury, had an outstanding game against the Eagles in week 10 recoding a team-high 10 tackles including a tackle for a loss on Philadelphia's first drive on third down, forcing a punt and setting up the Chargers first touchdown of the day. In week 11, recorded a career-high two sacks against Denver. Was inactive for week 15 contest vs the Titans due to a neck injury.

  2008: season-high four STTs vs. Washington Sept. 28...matched season-high with six defensive stops at Washington Nov. 16.

 2007: Season and career-high nine tackles along with season-high three STTs at NY Giants Nov. 11...starts vs. NY Jets Nov. 22 and Green Bay Nov. 29.

 2006: INT and 39-yard TD return off Peyton Manning in Nov. 19 win over previously unbeaten Indy...team-high three STTs in Wild Card Playoffs at Seattle Jan. 6.

 2005: INA Wks 1-2 after having surgery on left knee Sept. 8...season-high three STTs at Carolina Dec. 24...placed on injured reserve Dec. 29 after tearing right ACL in practice Dec. 28.  

 COLLEGE: All-America and two-time All-SEC...in ’03, he and T Michael Munoz became first juniors to serve as team captains since 1944...in ’04, they became first two-time captains since J.G. Lowe in 1924-25...’04 semifinalist for Butkus and Nagurski Awards... tore left ACL in ’02 season opener and spent year as medical redshirt...SEC Academic Honor Roll in ’02 and ’03 and SEC and AFCA Good Works teams in ’03...bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sports management from Tennessee.

  PERSONAL: Born in Inglewood, California...All-America, all-state and all-conference S and RB at Dominquez HS in Compton, Calif....led Dominquez to state playoffs in ’98 and ’99.