Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has quickly become one of the most prominent and admired athletes in the United States.
While everyone is likely familiar with Joe Burrow’s impressive feats on the football field, how much do you know about the man behind the helmet? Since entering the NFL in 2020, Burrow has not only energized the Bengals but also transformed them into a formidable contender in the league. The team undoubtedly appreciates having such a dynamic talent on their roster. Here are 10 fascinating facts about Joe Burrow that you might not know.
Ever wondered if Joe Burrow’s athletic talent runs in the family?
Burrow’s rise to stardom began at LSU. But for his father and two older brothers, their paths to success started at Nebraska.
Joe’s father, Jim Burrow, a former defensive back, played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was even drafted 218th overall by the Green Bay Packers in 1976. Jim played one season there, but he had most of his success in the CFL—winning the Grey Cup with the Montreal Alouettes in 1977. Burrow was also a two-time CFL All-Star.
After his playing career, Jim Burrow enjoyed a nearly four-decade college coaching career. This included a two-year stint at Nebraska from 2001 to 2002, where he served as a graduate assistant.
The Burrow family’s ties to Nebraska continued into the next generation. Joe’s older brothers, Jamie and Dan Burrow, played for the Cornhuskers. Jamie was a linebacker, and Dan was a safety.
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Jamie was on the Nebraska team that reached the 2002 Rose Bowl, where they fell 37-14 to the Miami Hurricanes.
Coming out of high school, Joe Burrow was reportedly offered 17 scholarships, including offers from Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
Joe hoped to follow in his father and brother’s footsteps by playing for Nebraska. Interestingly, the school passed on Burrow when he applied to transfer there in 2018. With the childhood dream over, Burrow opted to transfer to LSU, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Side note: Though they didn’t play at Nebraska, Burrow’s grandmother Dot Ford, grandfather James Burrow, and uncle John Burrow were also star athletes. Dot scored 82 points in a Mississippi high school basketball game. James played basketball at Mississippi State, and John was a safety at Ole Miss.
How Has Joe Burrow Transformed the Bengals in Just a Few Seasons?
A truly exceptional quarterback can profoundly affect a team’s success, and Joe Burrow’s influence on the Bengals has been nothing short of transformative. While the Bengals made several changes in recent years, Burrow is a pivotal addition that has made a significant impact.
This became especially evident when Burrow returned from a serious knee injury to guide the Bengals to the playoffs in his second season. For context, this achievement was monumental for the Bengals, who hadn’t experienced playoff success since 1990. The fact that Burrow led the team to the postseason so quickly, despite the long-standing drought, speaks volumes about his skill and leadership.
Skeptics might question the hype surrounding Burrow, but his performance and statistics prove his talent. In a remarkably short period, Burrow has broken several franchise records for the Bengals, all related to his impressive passing abilities. These achievements highlight not only his skill but also his rapid ascent to becoming one of the top players in the team’s history.
Vikings, Saints & Browns Fan
Burrow spent much of his youth in Ohio; he graduated from Athens High School in The Plains. However, he didn’t grow up rooting for the Ohio-based team that he now stars for.
Rather, Burrow was a fan of the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and the Bengals’ inner-state rivals, the Cleveland Browns.
Burrow lived in North Dakota when he was in Grades 1 and 2, which prompted him to cheer for the Vikings. However, his admiration of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush prompted Burrow to become a Saints fan.
Ahead of the 2020 National Championship Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Burrow had the fortune of meeting Brees at the Saints’ practice facility. On social media, the Tigers posted an incredible moment where Burrow told Brees that he’s responsible for his Saints’ fandom:
A month earlier, Burrow revealed that he grew up cheering for the Saints despite being raised in Ohio. Burrow had yet to meet Brees at the time, but the dream obviously wound up coming true. And how fitting was it that he led the Tigers to a national title inside the Saints’ home stadium?
Ahead of the Browns-Bengals Week 7, 2020 game, Jim Burrow posted a cool throwback photo from nine years earlier:
Okay, so Burrow was kinda/sorta a bandwagon fan. Hey, cheering for the Vikings and Browns has never been easy, but at least he got to enjoy the Saints’ Super Bowl 44 championship season.
And now, Burrow faces one of his favorite teams twice a season…against another former first overall pick in Baker Mayfield. Life is a full circle, folks!
Also read: VIDEO: NFL Fans Are Already Worried About Joe Burrow’s Health After Video Leaks From Bengals Training Camp
The Joe Burrow Sandwich
After the Bengals drafted Burrow with the first overall pick in 2020, a local restaurant decided to capitalize on all of the Burrow Mania that was sweeping the city. Izzy’s, renowned for its Deli Sandwiches, introduced the “The Bengal King” sandwich — available for a limited time — as a tribute to Burrow.
“The Bengal King” consisted of: Corned beef, swiss cheeses, sauerkraut, 1000 Island dressing, potato pancake and pickles on grilled marble rye. The Sandwich sold for the price of $11.99.
John Geisen, the president of Izzy’s, had this to say regarding the introduction of the Joe Burrow sandwich, per WKRC in Cincinnati:
“Joe finished his collegiate career as a Bayou Bengal and is ready to start his professional career as a Cincinnati Bengal. Izzy’s and the City of Cincinnati are excited to welcome Joe and what better way to do so than by having one of Cincinnati’s longest standing restaurants giving him his own sandwich.”
One-Song Wonder
Many non-guitarists at least know how to play “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. It’s just one of those things. And if you’re a of these “one-song guitarist,” you’re not alone. The Bengals quarterback is also part of this club.
But Burrow’s one song, surprisingly, isn’t “Smoke on the Water.” Rather, Burrow has revealed that the only song he knows how to play is the 1989 hit, “Free Fallin’” by the late Tom Petty.
As it turns out, this is the one song Burrow learned how to play on the guitar. He unfortunately suffered a broken arm after starting his guitar lessons, and never wound up resuming them.
Perhaps once his football career is over, he’ll have a lot more time to learn a few more songs.
Also read: Everyone Is Comparing Joe Burrow To The Same Legendary Rapper Thanks To His Wild New Bleached Hair
How Did Joe Burrow’s High School Honor His Rapid Rise to Fame?
Athletes often receive various honors throughout their careers, each carrying its own significance. While some chase the most prestigious awards in their sport, others find value in any acknowledgment of their hard work.
Joe Burrow quickly gained recognition, and in just a few years, his high school decided to rename its football stadium in his honor. Though a humble tribute, this gesture likely held deep meaning for Burrow, who has always shown a strong connection to his roots and family.
Is Burrow Not A Fan Of “Tiger King” Or The LSU Mascot?
The LSU football team has had a real tiger mascot named “Mike” since 1936. The current “Mike the Tiger” — named Mike VII — has been the on-campus mascot since August 2017.
This may be a popular attraction for the thousands of students and many tourists in Baton Rouge, but Burrow isn’t really having it.
During a 2020 appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, the subject of Netflix’s “Tiger King” documentary series was discussed. Burrow revealed that he’s “anti-animal in cage” and probably wouldn’t watch the series. He also said, “Mike the Tiger is not my favorite part of campus.”
What Is Burrow’s Pregame Rituals?
Many professional athletes have their signature pre-game rituals. For Tom Brady, it’s running out and screaming “LET’S GO.” For LeBron James, it’s the chalk toss. For Burrow, well, there’s quite a few.
During a 2018 meeting with the media, Burrow revealed his many pregame rituals. His two main ones? Eating a caramel apple sucker while riding the team bus and wearing one of his socks inside out.
Burrow revealed that he likes listening to Kid Cudi and John Mayor at the stadium as well. And when he’s at the hotel? Burrow likes to listen to Lil Uzi Vert and Meek Mill to amp himself up.
Before the 2020 national championship, Burrow revealed that he likes to take a 15-minute nap ahead of game time. Even if he doesn’t always fall asleep, it’s Burrow’s way of calming his nerves and emotions beforehand.
Did Joe Burrow’s Journey to NFL Stardom Go as Expected?
Joe Burrow’s path to NFL stardom wasn’t always a given. Throughout most of his college career, he wasn’t seen as a top prospect. It wasn’t until his breakout 2019 season that the football world realized a future NFL star was emerging.
Before the 2019 season, Burrow was ranked 17th among FBS quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus, a reflection of his 2018 performance—just 2,894 yards, 16 touchdowns, and a 57.8% completion rate. Few saw him as a first-round pick, with ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. not even including him in their early top lists for the 2020 draft.
But Burrow’s meteoric rise was undeniable, and by draft day, he went from an overlooked prospect to the obvious No. 1 pick. The Bengals’ decision to take him first overall, despite earlier projections, proved to be the right call.
However, Burrow’s rookie season didn’t go as planned. Just when he was hitting his stride, a catastrophic knee injury ended his season early, casting doubt on his future. Yet, Burrow defied the odds, returning the next season even stronger and more determined, solidifying his place as a franchise quarterback.
What Was the Impact of Joe Burrow’s Heisman Trophy Speech?
As previously noted, Burrow won the 2019 Heisman Trophy following a jaw-dropping final season at LSU. Burrow’s Heisman Trophy speech wasn’t just full of thank yous and emotional quotes, however. It was actually a greatly impactful speech.
While speaking into the microphone, Burrow brought awareness towards poverty in Athens, Ohio. Burrow said the following, which changed everything for the better:
“Coming from southeast Ohio it’s a very impoverished area and the poverty rate is almost two times the national average. There’s so many people there that don’t have a lot and I’m up here for all those kids in Athens and Athens County that go home to not a lot of food on the table, hungry after school. You guys can be up here, too.”
Will Drabold, who attended Athens High and Ohio State, was greatly inspired by Burrow’s speech. He organized a fundraiser for the Athens County Food Pantry on Facebook.
The fundraiser spread rapidly, and over $600,000 in donations were reached. This was obviously extraordinary support for the Panty, which had a reported budget of $80,000.
Burrow was given a platform and an opportunity. And rather than make all about himself, he made it about the city that he grew up in. And he was able to provide valuable support to the people of Athens, Ohio. The Bengals truly have themselves a gem of a person, both on and off the field.
