Joe Burrow

Who Is Joe Burrow?

Joseph Lee Burrow is an American professional NFL quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa.

He is the definition of resilience. He is the definition of precision. Most importantly, he is the definition of what an elite modern quarterback looks like.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow has already rewritten several Bengals passing records and placed himself among some of the NFL’s all-time greats through his first six seasons.

He holds the highest career completion percentage in NFL history at 68.5%, with a minimum of 1,500 attempts. Furthermore, he has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times — in 2022, 2024, and 2025 — and twice been named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year, in 2021 and 2024.

Joe Burrow is not just a great quarterback. He is a generational talent.

Early Life: A Football Family in Athens, Ohio

Born Into the Game

Joe Burrow was born on December 10, 1996, in Ames, Iowa, where his father, Jimmy Burrow, served as a defensive backs coach at Iowa State University. The family relocated multiple times due to Jimmy’s coaching career before settling in Athens, Ohio, in 2005 when he joined the staff at Ohio University as defensive coordinator — a position he held until 2018.

His father, Jimmy Burrow, is a former NFL player who was the defensive coordinator at Ohio University. His mother, Robin Burrow, was an elementary school principal. Together, they built a home where discipline, sports, and education were equally valued.

Brothers Who Played the Game

Joe also has two older brothers, Jamie and Dan, who have taken forth the family legacy of football, playing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Therefore, football was never just a hobby for the Burrows. It was a family language.

A Mother With a Sense of Style

Robin Burrow went to school for fashion merchandising but ended up switching careers once Joe was born. “I was traveling a lot, and my husband was traveling a lot with coaching, so I ended up getting out of that field,” she explained. She later became a school principal. Additionally, she is known for her involvement in the Athens County Food Pantry, which she helped to found in 2010.

High School: Athens High School, Ohio

A Multi-Sport Athlete

From a young age, Burrow was into sports and showed a competitive streak. When he first started playing football, he wanted to be a running back or wide receiver. However, he gravitated toward quarterback after realizing the position would give him the most influence on the game.

Burrow also excelled in basketball as a point guard for the Bulldogs, setting a school record with an 82-point game and averaging 19.3 points per game in his senior season.

The State Championship Moment

As a senior in 2014, he led Athens High School to the state championship game. Although the school lost 56–52, Burrow displayed the cool confidence and passing accuracy for which he would become known.

He earned Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year and first-team all-state recognition, becoming the first athlete from Athens High to win the Gatorade award.

College Career: Ohio State to LSU

Ohio State University (2015–2017)

Joe attended Ohio State University, where he played as a backup quarterback before transferring to Louisiana State University in 2018.

The decision was not easy. However, it was the most important of his life. Burrow needed a stage. LSU gave him one.

The Historic 2019 Season at LSU

At LSU, Burrow’s career took off. In his senior year, he led the Tigers to an undefeated season, clinching the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship and winning the Heisman Trophy. His performance included over 5,600 passing yards and 60 touchdowns, setting multiple records.

In 2019 at Louisiana State, he won the Heisman Trophy by the largest margin in history and set numerous NCAA FBS passing records.

He also holds several NCAA FBS records, including offensive yards in a season with 6,055 and touchdowns responsible for in a season with 65.

Awards Won at LSU (2019)

In 2019, Burrow won several prestigious awards, including the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, and Lombardi Award. It was one of the most decorated single seasons in college football history.

NFL Career: Becoming Joey Franchise

2020 NFL Draft — #1 Overall Pick

Joseph Lee Burrow was selected first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Bengals had not been a winning franchise for years. However, Burrow changed that narrative immediately. He carried confidence with him into every huddle, every press conference, and every fourth-quarter drive.

Rookie Season (2020) — Knee Injury

In his rookie season, Burrow completed 65.3% of his passes for 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 10 games. However, his season ended with a serious knee injury in November 2020.

Despite the setback, Burrow came back stronger. That became a pattern — not of weakness, but of extraordinary will.

2021 Season — First Comeback Player of the Year

Burrow returned to the field in 2021 fully recovered. He earned his first NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. That season, he passed for 4,729 yards and 36 touchdowns, announcing clearly that he was one of the best quarterbacks in football.

Super Bowl LVI Run (2021 Season)

Burrow led Cincinnati to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI, followed by a second consecutive trip to the AFC Championship in the 2022 season.

The Bengals had not appeared in the Super Bowl since 1989. Burrow took them there in just his second season. It was a moment that redefined the franchise entirely.

2022 Pro Bowl Season

In 2022, Burrow passed for 4,732 yards and 40 touchdowns and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. The entire football world now understood — Joe Burrow was not a flash in the pan. He was the real deal.

2023 — Wrist Injury Strikes

In 2023, Burrow suffered a torn scaphoid-lunate ligament in his throwing wrist. The injury required surgery and an extensive rehab process.

Despite the setback, his character never wavered. He focused on recovery. He came back ready.

2024 — The Historic Comeback Season

In 2024, Burrow threw for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions.

He led the NFL and set Cincinnati single-season records for passing attempts (652), completions (460), passing yards (4,918), and TD passes (43). He was twice named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month in November and December/January.

He was voted the PFWA’s 2024 Comeback Player of the Year — his second such honour. Moreover, Burrow was selected as the 2025 George Halas Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA), given to the NFL player who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.

2025 Season — Toe Injury, Return, and Records

Joe Burrow’s 2025 season was cut short due to a toe injury that cost him nine games. But when he played, he again proved why he is arguably the best pure quarterback in the NFL. Across just eight games, he threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions, completing 66.8% of his passes with a passer rating of 100.7.

During the 2025 season, he became the third-fastest player in league history to reach 150 TD passes, as well as the fifth-fastest to 20,000 passing yards — both accomplished in his 75th regular-season game.

He returned in late November and started each of the final six games of the season. Additionally, he earned his third career Pro Bowl selection for the 2025 season.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Heading into the 2026 season, there are massive expectations for the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow is healthy and regarded as one of the best in the NFL. He was recently ranked fourth at his position by ESPN.

Burrow shared an optimistic injury update ahead of 2026: “It’s the best I’ve felt in a long time. I had some tough years with injuries and stuff, and it took a while to get my body the way I wanted it, but now I’m in a really good place.”

Cincinnati also agreed to long-term contract extensions with star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, tying them to the franchise through the 2029 and 2028 seasons, respectively — moves Burrow publicly pushed for.

Career Statistics at a Glance

Season	Games	Passing Yards	TDs	INTs	Completion %	Passer Rating
2020 (Rookie)	10	2,688	13	5	65.3%	79.1
2021	16	4,611	34	14	70.4%	108.3
2022	16	4,732	40	12	68.3%	106.8
2023	10	2,309	15	6	68.5%	93.9
2024	17	4,918	43	9	70.6%	108.5
2025	8	1,809	17	5	66.8%	100.7
Career	77	20,810	157	51	68.5%	101.1

NFL Records and Honours

Joe Burrow holds the highest career completion percentage in NFL history at 68.5% (minimum 1,500 attempts). He also holds the NFL record for pass completions per game in a career, averaging 24.9.

Honours and Awards Summary

• 3× Pro Bowl selections (2022, 2024, 2025)
• 2× NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2021, 2024)
• George Halas Award — 2025
• NFL Passing Yards Leader — 2024
• NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader — 2024
• NFL Completion Percentage Leader — 2021
• Super Bowl LVI appearance (2021 season)
• 2019 Heisman Trophy — largest winning margin in history
• 2019 CFP National Champion with LSU
• CFP National Championship Offensive MVP (2019)
• 2019 Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award

Personal Life: The Man Behind the Helmet

Family Foundation

Jimmy and Robin Burrow have been unwavering in their support of Joe throughout every stage of his career. Jimmy remarked, “Joe, Robin and I — we love Athens, we love Ohio, we love the Bengals, and we love all the people.”

Their small-town Ohio roots keep Joe grounded. Even as one of the NFL’s biggest stars, he remains deeply connected to the community where he grew up.

Relationship Life

Joe began dating Olivia Holzmacher in 2017 while both attended Ohio State University. The relationship persisted through his transfer to LSU and his early NFL years. Reports surfaced in late 2024 of a possible breakup after approximately seven years together, though this was never officially confirmed. In 2024, Burrow was also linked to Sports Illustrated model Olivia Ponton. In June 2025, the couple was seen together in New York City, leading to widespread media coverage and fan discussions.

Style, Swagger, and the “Joe Cool” Brand

Joe Burrow is as famous for his ice-cool demeanour as he is for his spiral. His nickname — Joe Shiesty — reflects his calculated boldness. He is known for his tailored fits, his chain jewellery, and a fashion sense that has made him a style icon far beyond the NFL. His mother Robin joked, “He has taken over the swag. I used to be a part of the swag, but then I am not swaggy anymore.”

Endorsements and Net Worth

Joe Burrow’s estimated net worth in 2025 is approximately $50 million. His endorsement portfolio features partnerships with major brands such as Nike, Pepsi, and Old Spice. In 2023, Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with the Bengals.