The most poised young quarterback in the NFL — led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in just his second season.
Joseph Lee Burrow was born in Ames, Iowa in 1996, the son of a football coach. He transferred from Ohio State to Louisiana State University, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2019 with one of the greatest college football seasons in history — 60 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions. Cincinnati Bengals selected him first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He suffered a torn ACL in his rookie season and returned in 2021 to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. In just his second full season he led the Bengals to his first Super Bowl appearance since 1989, losing to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. He was selected to three Pro Bowls. His completion percentage and passer rating in his first three full seasons are among the highest in NFL history for a player through that stage of his career. His coolness under pressure — he has engineered multiple late comeback victories — and his ability to process defences quickly have drawn comparisons to Joe Montana. He suffered another serious knee injury in 2023 but returned to continue as one of the AFC's elite quarterbacks. His swagger, fashion sense and personality have made him one of the most marketable players in the league.
Heisman Trophy (2019)
Career Honours
- Heisman Trophy (2019)
- Pro Bowl 3x
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2021)
- Super Bowl appearance (LVI)