American Football
Who is Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow?
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Joe Burrow has established himself among the NFL's elite quarterbacks, and he's achieved that status despite facing his share of adversity.
As the 28-year-old heads into his sixth NFL season, DAZN News looks back on Burrow's journey to this point and what his future might hold.
Where was Joe Burrow selected in the NFL Draft?
Joe Burrow dazzled at LSU in 2019, throwing for a single-season record of 60 touchdowns and leading the team to a 2020 National Championship Game victory over Clemson, airing it out for a mind-numbing 463 yards and six touchdowns.
All that and a 2019 Heisman Trophy win made the Cincinnati Bengals excited to claim Burrow with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
NFL career so far
The transition from Division I college football to the NFL can be challenging, and although Burrow's numbers were somewhat pedestrian by pro quarterback standards, he had an efficient rookie campaign, while showing flashes of brilliance. In 10 games, Burrow completed 65.3% of his passes for 2,688 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also tossing five interceptions.
Unfortunately, his season was cut short when, in a Week 11 contest, Burrow was carted off with a knee injury that required season-ending surgery . However, Burrow would use that experience as a foundation for what was to come next - a huge year.
The difference between Burrow's rookie performance and his sophomore campaign was like night and day. In 2021, he completed 70.4% of his passes for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns. He helped lead the Bengals to an AFC North division title and took Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI, where they were edged by the Los Angeles Rams, 23-20 .
Burrow's efforts were rewarded when he was crowned the 2021 NFL Comeback Player of the Year , but the real takeaway from that season was that the Bengals have a bona fide star franchise quarterback to be reckoned with for many years to come.
The years that have followed have been similarly impressive, as Burrow has gone on to earn several awards. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl twice, won the titles of passing yards leader, passing completions leader, and passing touchdown leader. In 2024, he also became the first player in NFL history to win the Comeback Player of the Year award for a second time after recovering from a wrist injury.
Career outlook
Head coach Zac Taylor raved about how Burrow is still improving.
Postseason success is the most glaring omission on Burrow's NFL CV, but a dynamic offense comprised of Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins can only take the team so far.
Unfortunately for Burrow, the Bengals' defense has held them back in recent years . They boast 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson on the edge, and they added highly-rated youngsters Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight Jr. in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the unit is still lacking the talent and depth to compete with the NFL's elite offenses.
That said, things change quickly in the NFL, and perhaps new defensive coordinator Al Golden can work some magic in 2025 and beyond. If he can't, the Bengals may struggle to make a deep playoff run, and Burrow's legacy could take a hit, and that would be an unfortunate way to cap an otherwise brilliant career.
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