Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is a prominent American football quarterback known for his impressive ascent in the National Football League (NFL) after a stellar college career. Born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa, Burrow grew up in a sports-oriented family, with his father and brothers also involved in football. He attended Athens High School in Ohio, where he showcased his talent as a quarterback, earning accolades like Ohio's Mr. Football. Burrow began his college career at Ohio State University but transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU), where he gained national recognition for his record-breaking performance in the 2019 season, culminating in a national championship victory and winning the Heisman Trophy.
Drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow's early NFL career was a mix of promise and adversity, including a severe knee injury that sidelined him for part of his rookie season. However, he made a noteworthy comeback in 2021, leading the Bengals to their first playoff win in over three decades and a Super Bowl appearance. Despite facing challenges, such as an underperforming offensive line, Burrow's composure and skill earned him respect and admiration, along with the affectionate nicknames "Joe Cool" and "Joe Brrr." As of 2023, he signed a historic contract extension, solidifying his status as one of the league's top quarterbacks, although his season was ultimately impacted by injury.
Joe Burrow
- Born: December 10, 1996
- Place of Birth: Ames, Iowa
American football player Joe Burrow rose to fame as an elite quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). After a strong college football career, during which he won a national championship and the Heisman Trophy with Louisiana State University (LSU), he was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals as the number one pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He quickly helped make the Bengals a playoff-caliber team and earned a reputation for strong performance under pressure.
Early Life
Joe Burrow was born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa, to Robin and Jim Burrow. Burrow’s family has had a long history of involvement in sports. His paternal grandparents were both star collegiate basketball players, his uncle played college football, and his father also played football in college as well as briefly in the NFL and the Canadian Football League (CFL). His father then enjoyed a long career as an assistant coach at several universities. Burrow’s two older brothers, Jamie and Dan, played football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln when their father coached there.
The Burrow family moved often as Jim Burrow’s coaching career brought them to new places. Joe Burrow began playing football himself at an early age. He began attending Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio, when his father was defensive coordinator at Ohio University. He excelled at both basketball and football in high school. But he particularly stood out for his skill as a quarterback. He led his school's football team to three consecutive state playoff appearances and won Ohio’s Mr. Football award as a senior in 2014.
College Football
Burrow's talents caught the eye of college recruiters. He accepted an athletic scholarship to Ohio State University and enrolled in 2015. He did not play his freshman year as he focused on his studies and learned the team’s offensive system. This practice, called redshirting, is common among college athletes.
During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Burrow served as the Ohio State Buckeyes' backup quarterback. He played in just a handful of games during that time, seeing action mostly when the score was out of hand and the starters were rested. He then decided to transfer to Louisiana State University (LSU) in hopes of getting more playing time. After making the move in 2018, he became the LSU Tigers' starting quarterback.
Burrow played well in the 2018 season, helping LSU win the Fiesta Bowl game against the University of Central Florida. But it was in the 2019 season that he broke out as a star, posting one of the marquee seasons in college football history. He set Southeastern Conference (SEC) records with 5,761 passing yards and 60 touchdowns, and led LSU to a 15–0 regular season record. Burrow's performance earned him almost all the major offensive awards for the year, including the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious honor in college football.
In the playoffs Burrow continued to shine, helping LSU beat the University of Oklahoma in the semifinal Peach Bowl and Clemson University in the National Championship game. Burrow earned most valuable player (MVP) honors in the championship game after recording 463 passing yards and five touchdown passes in the 42–25 victory.
NFL Career
Burrow's outstanding senior college season cemented him as the consensus top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati Bengals held the number-one selection and were considered in need of a new franchise quarterback. As expected, the Bengals drafted Burrow, and he soon signed a $36-million rookie contract.
Burrow earned the Bengals' starting quarterback job for the 2020 season. He quickly showed promise as a talented player, although the team as a whole continued to struggle. Burrow ultimately started ten games before severely injuring his knee in a November game against Washington. The injury cost him the remainder of his rookie season.
Burrow more than bounced back in 2021, throwing for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns across a full sixteen games, earning him NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. More important, he led the Bengals to a 10–6 record and an AFC North title. In the playoffs, Burrow helped Cincinnati win their first postseason game since 1990 by beating the Las Vegas Raiders in the wild card round. They then beat the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round and advanced to the AFC Championship game against the heavily favored Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals trailed the Chiefs by 18 points in the second quarter, but Burrow threw two touchdown passes and engineered three more scoring drives to secure a 27–24 overtime win and a Super Bowl berth. In Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams, Burrow continued his strong play, giving Cincinnati a lead in the fourth quarter, but the Rams rallied to win the championship.
In 2022, Burrow continued to emerge as one of the best young quarterbacks in the league. He finished the regular season with 4,475 passing yards and 35 passing touchdowns, adding 5 rushing touchdowns as well. His efforts helped the Bengals improve their record to 12–4 and claim another AFC North title. They then defeated the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills in the first two playoff rounds to set up a rematch with the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. This time, however, Cincinnati lost in another close game. In recognition of his strong season, Burrow was named to the Pro Bowl and finished fourth in voting for the NFL MVP Award.
Just before the 2023 season began, Burrow signed a five-year contract extension with the Bengals worth $275 million. The annual value of $55 million per year set an NFL record. However, Burrow's first year under the new deal was a disappointment, as the Bengals struggled to a 5–5 record before the quarterback suffered a wrist injury in November. The injury required surgery, and Burrow once again missed the remainder of the season.
Impact
Joe Burrow entered the NFL as one of the most-hyped quarterback prospects of the era. He quickly lived up to expectations in many ways, establishing himself as a major star at professional football's most important position. As the face of the Bengals franchise from the moment he was drafted, he won the respect of many fans and analysts for helping to turn the long-suffering club into a playoff winner and Super Bowl contender. Observers also noted that his early success in Cincinnati came despite significant weaknesses elsewhere on the team, especially the offensive line, which caused him to take many hits and sacks.
Throughout his career, Burrow developed a reputation for being confident and keeping cool under pressure. This earned him nicknames like "Joe Cool" and "Joe Brrr" from fans and sportswriters. He was also known to express his confidence by showing up for games dressed in stylish, and sometimes outlandish, wardrobes.
Bibliography
Burson, Scott, and Sam Smathers. From Bulldog to Bengal: The Joe Burrow Story Through the Eyes of His Hometown, Orange Frazer Press, 2023.
“Joe Burrow.” Cincinnati Bengals, www.bengals.com/team/players-roster/joe-burrow/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
“Joe Burrow.” Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurrJo01.htm. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
“#9 Joe Burrow.” Louisiana State University, lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/joe-burrow/. Accessed 7 May 2023.
Kownack, Bobby. "QB Joe Burrow, Bengals Agree to Five-Year, $275 Million Extension." NFL, 9 Sept. 2023, www.nfl.com/news/qb-joe-burrow-bengals-agree-to-five-year-275-million-extension. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
Peterson, Randy. “Heisman Trophy Front-Runner Joe Burrow Will be Forever Linked to Ames and That House on McKinley Drive.” The Des Moines Register, 13 Dec. 2019, www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/randy-peterson/2019/12/13/joe-burrow-possible-heisman-trophy-trek-started-ames-iowa/4398775002/. Accessed 8 May 2023.
Wysong, David. “A Look at Joe Burrow’s Most Iconic Outfits from the 2022 Season.” Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Jan. 2023, www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2023/01/14/joe-burrow-fashion-best-outfits-from-cincinnati-bengals-2022-season/69798629007/. Accessed 8 May 2023.