The New York Giants have made a significant move that was a long time coming. They announced Thursday the hiring of their first full-time female scout, Hannah Burnett.
Burnett, 25, was a standout lacrosse, soccer and basketball player at Huntington (NY) High School on Long Island. Burnett was a team captain at the University of Massachusetts, a two-time all-region and all-conference player and three-time conference champion. She holds the UMass record for points in a game with 10.
“I played sports forever, ever since I can remember,” Burnett said. “To be able to be part of a team again that’s working toward one common goal is what I’ve been doing my whole life. I’ve always been a part of a team. It’s helped me transition into the NFL. When I got to UMass and majored in sports management, I knew I wanted to work in sports in some capacity.”
Burnett comes to Big Blue from the Atlanta Falcons, where she has spent the last 19 months in their scouting department.
“The only thing I care about is for us to win the Super Bowl. Our main goal as a team is to win a Super Bowl. That’s my goal, that’s everybody’s goal.”
Burnett was an events operation intern in the Buffalo Bills’ training camp the summer before her senior year in 2017. After graduation, she did a four-month stint as a player personnel assistant in the NFL office. Burnett was hired by the Falcons in November 2018.
Burnett doesn’t see herself as a trailblazer or groundbreaker.
“I try not to think about that,” she told the team’s site. “I completely understand and am aware that this is an awesome opportunity, and it’s important for females in the league. But I’ve said this from the get-go, I just want to be the best area scout that I can. I want to go in there like everyone else goes in there and go about my business like a pro.”