Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow's Biography

Joseph Lee Burrow, better known in the world of American football as “Joe Brrr” or “Joe Cool,” was born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa. The son of Robin and Jim Burrow, a former football player and coach with a 40-year-spanning career, Joe was destined for a life in sports from a young age.

Born in Ames where his father was a coach at Iowa State University, Burrow moved to North Dakota as a child when his father accepted a position as the defensive coordinator at North Dakota State University in Fargo. While there, future Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos predicted seven-year-old Joe’s future in football. The Burrow family spent two years in Fargo before relocating to Athens, Ohio, where Jim Burrow served as the defensive coordinator at Ohio University.

Joe’s high school years were impactful at Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio. He led the school’s team, the Bulldogs, to their first-ever playoff victories and three straight playoff appearances. By his senior year, Burrow had racked up 11,416 passing yards, 2,067 rushing yards, and 184 touchdowns, netting him the titles of Ohio’s Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014. Despite these accolades, the Burrows’ athletic prowess wasn’t limited to football. Joe’s paternal grandmother set a state high school record in basketball in the 1940s, and other family members carved out athletic careers of their own in various sports.

After high school, Joe committed to Ohio State University (OSU) to play football, redshirting his first year in 2015. For the next two years, he played as a backup, recognizing his potential and unwillingness to remain on the bench. Following spring games in 2018, he transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) after graduating from OSU with a degree in consumer and family financial services. His time at LSU, where he was named starting quarterback, was highly successful and culminated in a 10-3 record, inclusive of a Fiesta Bowl win over UCF.

In 2019, during his redshirt senior season, Joe enjoyed an explosive career growth, breaking LSU records for consecutive completed passes and single-season passing yards, among others. That year, he received the Heisman Trophy with the highest percentage of available points ever achieved and the largest victory margin in the award’s history. During the LSU’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Oklahoma, Joe threw seven touchdowns in the first half, followed by a national championship game victory against Clemson in 2020.

Following an illustrious college career, he was selected as the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, with whom he signed a $36.1 million rookie contract. Joe immediately started making a name for himself in the NFL, setting a record for the most completions by a rookie quarterback in a single game and earning his first career win against the Jacksonville Jaguars during his first season.

In a turn of events that has firmly positioned him in NFL history, Joe led the Bengals to their first playoff win in over 31 years during the 2021 season, drawing national attention to his talent. His quick and strategic gameplay earned him the names “Joe Cool” and “Joe Brrr,” thanks to his calmness under pressure and cool demeanor.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Burrow expressed his loyalty to the Cincinnati Bengals by signing an unprecedented contract extension. This deal was noted as the largest in NFL history in terms of annual salary at the time of signing.

With an impressive career trajectory and standout moments both on and off the field, Joe Burrow’s story is not one of overnight success, but rather a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication, and innate talent. From Ames, Iowa to professional football fields, Burrow’s journey continues to captivate fans and inspire future generations of athletes.