The Cleveland Browns have a new player to help their running game. This offseason, they have signed Michael Burton, a 34-year-old fullback who has played in the NFL for eleven years, with 2026 being his twelfth season in the league.

Burton was picked by the Detroit Lions in 2015 and has since played for various teams. He won a Super Bowl while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, and played alongside Bo Nix during his time with the Broncos.

He is known for being a very strong blocker who helps running backs find space to run. The news about Burton joining the Browns' roster was shared by Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot on X (formerly Twitter).

“#Browns have signed FB Michael Burton, entering his 12th #NFL season out of #Rutgers.” Mary posted.

Despite being a veteran, Burton had a tough year recently and had to sit out for the whole 2025 season due to a hamstring injury. However, now that he has recovered, the Browns want to utilize his strength to help them move the ball short distances and protect their players. 

Burton has carved out a solid career as one of the NFL’s most reliable players. To date, he has appeared in 147 regular-season games through 2024. His career production includes 79 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 196 receiving yards.

Interestingly, Cleveland did not draft a dedicated fullback in the 2026 NFL Draft. That makes this signing a targeted veteran addition to support Head Coach Todd Monken’s vision.

Browns' Plans For Michael Burton For The 2026 Season

The Cleveland Browns have finally secured the veteran fullback they’ve been chasing all season. While Todd Monken originally hoped to bring in former Ravens star Patrick Ricard, he successfully landed twelve-year veteran Michael Burton instead. 

The 34-year-old was signed on Tuesday to serve as a lead blocker for the team's primary runners, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. This is very similar to the position he played alongside Bo Nix during the 2024-2025 season for the Denver Broncos.

Monken has frequently mentioned his desire for a true fullback to anchor the offense. For much of the season, the Browns had been using defensive tackle Adin Huntington in that role, but the team felt they needed a more experienced specialist. 

Burton enters a locker room that looks very different from the one it did a year ago. He joins a revamped offense featuring 2026 draft picks KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, as well as a completely rebuilt offensive line headlined by top-ten pick Spencer Fano. 

Most importantly, Burton will provide crucial protection for Quinshon Judkins, who is currently working his way back from major ankle and leg surgery. 

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit