Jacob Geoffrey Burns (born 21 April 1978) is an Australian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Jacob Burns began his career with the local team Sydney United. He then moved to local rivals Parramatta Power, whom he left in 2000 to join the Premier League club Leeds United. They signed him as squad cover, and he only played ten games during his three-year stay. This included three appearances during Leeds' run to the semi-finals of the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League.

His contract was allowed to run out, and on 17 October 2003 he joined Barnsley on a free transfer. He also spent three seasons at Barnsley however these were a lot more respectable, as he played 91 times gaining 8 goals and one assist, as well as the club captaincy.

However, he craved another chance at international football, and so in 2006 he followed the chance of Champions League football to Ekstraklasa champions Wisla Krakow.

When Wisła manager Dan Petrescu moved to Romanian top-flight team Unirea Urziceni at the start of the 2008–09 season, the Australian followed.

Burns' time in Romania was of mixed form and inconsistent appearances, and at the end of that one season, he decided the time was right for a return to his home land. On 4 May 2009, it was announced that Burns had signed a three-year contract with A-League club Perth Glory. He has also been awarded the club captaincy.

In the 2011–12 season, Burns led the Glory to the A-League Grand Final, and despite losing, he was awarded the Joe Marston Medal awarded to the best player of the match. Burns was in turns praised and criticised for the sportsmanship he showed after the match, following the controversial penalty decision that won Brisbane Roar the championship, and the FFA 'administrative error' which saw the Joe Marston medal incorrectly awarded to Thomas Broich during the on-field presentations.

Burns played his 100th game for Glory on 23 November 2013 in a game against Central Coast Mariners, and he was handed a two-match ban.