Vince Lombardi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Burrow's journey began in Athens, Ohio, where he attended high school from 2011 to 2014. He led his team to three straight playoff appearances and the school's first seven playoff victories, passing for 11,416 yards with 157 touchdowns while rushing for another 2,067 yards with 27 scores. A standout basketball player as well, he was named first-team all-state at point guard in his senior year before committing to Ohio State on May 27, 2014. After redshirting in 2015 and serving as a backup for two years, Burrow realized he would not be the starter. In May 2018, he transferred to LSU, graduating from Ohio State with a degree in consumer and family financial services. At LSU, he became a legend, leading the Tigers to an undefeated regular season in 2019. His performance against Alabama on November 9 saw him throw for 393 yards and three touchdowns in a 46–41 victory over a top-ranked opponent. He broke the SEC single-season passing yards record previously held by Tim Couch and set a new school record with 17 consecutive completed passes against Ole Miss.

In Their Own Story

The turning point of Burrow's career came during his 2019 season at LSU, culminating in a historic College Football Playoff run. On December 14, 2019, he was awarded the Heisman Trophy by a record margin of 1,846 votes over runner-up Jalen Hurts, receiving the highest-ever share of available points. His acceptance speech highlighted the rampant poverty and food insecurity in his hometown; immediately following the broadcast, $450,000 in donations flowed to the Athens County food bank. Burrow's legacy at LSU included winning every major award: the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Lombardi Award, and Manning Award, plus unanimous All-American honors. In his first NFL season with Cincinnati, he led the team to their first playoff win since 1990, ending the longest active drought in the four major North American sports. He guided the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI and was named Comeback Player of the Year in 2021. In 2023, he signed what was then the largest contract in NFL history by annual salary, leading the team to their first consecutive division title.

Reader's Guide

Burrow's professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals is marked by specific milestones and records. He was selected first overall in the 2020 NFL draft. His breakout came in 2021, earning him his first Comeback Player of the Year award after leading the team to the Super Bowl. In 2023, he secured a record-breaking contract and led the Bengals to consecutive division titles. Despite missing the playoffs in 2024, Burrow led the entire league in both passing yards and passing touchdowns that season, earning his second Comeback Player of the Year Award. Sportswriters and fellow players have nicknamed him "Joe Cool" and "Joe Brrr" due to his calmness under pressure. His connection to his roots remains strong; during the 2020 NFL draft, he wore a T-shirt with the number 740, referencing the area code for Athens, Ohio. In December 2019, the Athens City School District unanimously voted to rename their high school football stadium in his honor.

Did You Know?

• Burrow's father, Jim, was a coach for over 40 years, and Burrow was born while his father was on staff at Iowa State University.
• Unlike his father, uncle, and brothers who played defense, Burrow started as a quarterback because his first youth team had no one else to play the position.
• During his Heisman acceptance speech in 2019, he drew attention to poverty in his hometown, which received $450,000 in donations shortly after.
• In 2024, Burrow led the league in passing yards and touchdowns despite the Bengals missing the playoffs, earning his second Comeback Player of the Year award.
• Burrow wore a shirt with the number 740 during the 2020 NFL draft to honor the area code for Athens, Ohio.