Joe Burrow

Joseph Lee Burrow was born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa, to Robin and Jim Burrow, a former football player and coach. His athletic lineage extends back nearly a century, with relatives excelling in various sports. Burrow’s early life saw him move across states due to his father’s coaching career, eventually settling in Athens, Ohio. He attended Athens High School from 2011 to 2014, leading his team to three consecutive playoff appearances. During his high school career, he passed for 11,416 yards with 157 touchdowns and rushed for 2,067 yards with 27 touchdowns, earning the state’s Mr. Football Award and Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014. He was also an all-state basketball player. His strong connection to his hometown led to the Athens City School District renaming its football stadium in his honor in 2019.

Burrow began his college football career at Ohio State in 2015, redshirting his first year and serving as a backup quarterback for the next two seasons. Recognizing his desire for playing time, he transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2018 as a graduate transfer, quickly becoming their starting quarterback. His 2018 season at LSU saw him lead the Tigers to a 10–3 record, including a win in the Fiesta Bowl. The 2019 season marked a significant turning point in his career, where he had an unprecedented year. He led LSU to a 15–0 undefeated season, culminating in a College Football Playoff National Championship. Individually, Burrow received the Heisman Trophy, setting multiple NCAA records for passing yards and touchdowns in a single season, and was widely regarded as having one of the greatest seasons by a college quarterback.

Selected first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow signed a four-year, $36.1 million rookie contract. His rookie season was cut short by a significant knee injury in Week 11. However, he made a remarkable return in 2021, leading the Bengals to their first playoff win since 1990 and an appearance in Super Bowl LVI. For his exceptional recovery and performance, he was awarded the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. In 2022, he received his first Pro Bowl selection and led the Bengals to consecutive division titles for the first time in franchise history. Despite a season-ending wrist injury in 2023, he continued to be involved with the team. He made another strong comeback in 2024, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns and earning his second Comeback Player of the Year award, becoming only the second player to achieve this twice.