After college, he played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for three years with the Green Bay Packers.

All of his male siblings also played football, with the first three earning letters at Oklahoma: Kurt, Bob, Lynn, Lyle, and Don.

There in 1939, he participated in the football team's 12–0 "Indian Bowl" victory over Daniel Webster High School of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[3] In 1943, Burris enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Second World War in Europe and Japan.

First-year head coach Jim Tatum sent Burris onto the practice field where he blocked three punts.

[1] In March 1948, Oklahoma head coach Bud Wilkinson accused a scout from the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference of attempting to sign three of his players: Burris, center John Rapacz, and tackle Homer Paine.

The scout denied the charge, and insisted his visit to Oklahoma was licit and at the behest of Burris who wanted to discuss his potential for a future professional career.