:Vincent Burns

{{Short description|American football player (1981–2024)}}

{{for|the American poet|Vincent Godfrey Burns}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL player

|image =

|birth_date={{birth date|1981|6|21}}

|birth_place=Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|2024|7|17|1981|6|21}}

|death_place=

|high_school = Lowndes
(Valdosta, Georgia)

|college=Northern Arizona (2000)
Kentucky (2001–2004)

|position=Defensive end

|number= 72

|draftyear=2005

|draftround=3

|draftpick= 92

|pastteams =

• Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2005|2006}})

|highlights =

• 2× Second-team All-SEC (2002, 2003)

}}

Vincent Eric Burns Jr. (June 21, 1981 – July 17, 2024), nicknamed "Sweet Pea", was an American professional football defensive end who played college football at Northern Arizona University and the University of Kentucky. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Burns suffered an injury that sidelined him during the 2005 season and then spent the 2006 season on the Colts' practice squad, ultimately never playing a game in the NFL.{{cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2024/07/17/vincent-burns-kentucky-football-dead-obituary-sec-indianapolis-colts-nfl-sweet-pea/74447786007/|newspaper=Louisville Courier-Journal|title=Vincent 'Sweet Pea' Burns, former Kentucky football all-SEC defensive lineman, dead at 43|first=Craig|last=Meyer|date=July 17, 2024}} Burns died on July 17, 2024, at the age of 43.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wymt.com/2024/07/17/former-kentucky-football-standout-dead-43/ |title=Former Kentucky football standout dead at 43 |first1=Audrey |last1=Hausberger |website=WYMT.com |location=Hazard, Kentucky |access-date=July 17, 2024}}