Burks went rung-by-rung up the Div. II ladder playing and coaching until after his fifth season as the defensive coordinator at Southeastern Oklahoma State, when his unit finished the 2018 season leading Div. II in pass defense.

Then, out of the clear blue of confetti celebrating the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory, Burks got a call from Flores, the New England linebackers coach just named the Dolphins head coach. Following up on a tip from Burks’ native Texas, Flores hired him as a coaching assistant after two interviews.

Three years later, Burks came to Cincinnati a few days after the Bengals’ Super Bowl appearance. Former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, impressed with how Burks worked the DBs at the Senior Bowl from the year before, filed his name away and hired him.

Since then, Burks has been entrusted with a pair of second-rounders, Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner, and has transitioned first-round pick Dax Hill from safety to cornerback. Burks got here before all his players in that room, and new defensive coordinator Al Golden, pleased with the development at the position, convinced him to stay.

Four of his cornerbacks, Hill, Taylor-Britt, Turner and Josh Newton, are in Pro Football Focus’ top 78 for overall grades at the position.

“(Flores) saw something in me. He gave me a shot,” Burks says. “A lot of times in this business, people get opportunities to connect with somebody. Friendship. Families. I had no connections in the NFL. None. Zero. No Div. I experience. The only experience I had was coaching. I am forever grateful he saw the type of person and type of leader I was and gave me a shot.”

The shot has led to Sunday’s task against Jefferson. Burks watched Flores develop defenses by being open-minded, and it’s a good lesson for this week after Friday’s injury report has one starter, Taylor Britt (hamstring) doubtful) after he missed Friday’s practice, and the third cornerback, Turner (hamstring) questionable after he went limited. Although head coach Zac Taylor is upbeat about him.

“(Flores is) always evolving. That’s the beautiful thing about him,” Burks says. “He asks, what can my current players do well, and I’ll build my system and my identity around that.”

PFF not only ranks Hill 13th among all cornerbacks, but his end-zone interception last week helped the Bengals stay in the game long enough to beat Jacksonville in the last minute. Plus, his 17 tackles lead the Bengals.

“We can all play at a high level,” Hill says of the cornerback room. “That brings the best out of all of us. There are guys that can come in and execute. (Jefferson) is one of the best receivers in the NFL. We have to shut him down and contain him. Everything kind of runs through (their best players). We always talk about it each week. We have to lock down the best receiver. We do that, we have a pretty good chance of winning the game.”