I want to take it back to the 2019 College Football season for a second. I remember watching the LSU Tigers and Texas Longhorns game. I was so amazed by their offense and the Quarterback who was under center anchoring things. It was a guy named Joe Burrow. That team went on to clinch a perfect season and win the National Championship over the Clemson Tigers. To this day, that’s the best season I’ve witnessed from a Quarterback at the college level. Joe threw 60 touchdown passes in total that year. He won the Heisman that same season as well. Months later in 2020, his name was called first as the top pick in the NFL Draft. Unfortunately, his rookie season was cut short because of a torn ACL. The following year, he leads the Bengals to the Super Bowl and this year, he helped lead the Bengals back to another AFC Championship game. This year alone, the highest-paid Quarterback has changed three times. First, it was Jalen Hurts, then Lamar Jackson and just a few weeks ago, it was Justin Herbert. Well, it’s changed again. Joe Burrow holds that title now, not just as the highest-paid Quarterback, but the highest-paid player in NFL history. A five-year deal worth $275 million.
In a short period of time, Joe has become one of the best Quarterbacks in our league. He’s actually the second best on my list in my professional opinion. I said this a few weeks ago when I revealed his ranking on my “Best In The Business” project and I’ll repeat myself again. The mentality he displays for such a young guy is amazing. Anytime I watch him, I see a calm Quarterback that never lets anything phase him or get him off his game. That’s the laser focus Tom Brady always preached about for years which is why I’ve said he’s similar to Tom in that capacity of the game. His focus is always forward and if something doesn’t go as planned on one play, Joe has the ability to erase that and move on to the next play. You can drill him and knock him to the ground, but nothing changes. That’s strong mental toughness if I ever saw it. Joe in the pocket is one thing, but his mobility is criminally underrated because he can extend plays whenever the opportunity presents itself. He’s always looking to make plays down the field. However, if you give him those running lanes, he’ll attack and get those yards with his feet. I’ve compared Joe to a future Hall of Famer in Drew Brees, but he’s more mobile than Drew was at any point of his career. As a passer, Joe is as strong as they come because he can fit that football into the tightest of windows. I love his chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase and of course, they go back to college at LSU. Their connection is Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison-esqe and I say this because just as Peyton always knew how to find Marvin, Joe knows how to find Ja’Marr. That’s his safety valve.
Let’s look at the last five years for Joe Burrow. 2019, he wins the Heisman and National Championship, 2020, he’s drafted number one overall, 2021, he leads the Bengals to their first division title since 2015, wins Comeback Player of the Year and helped lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl, 2022, he’s playing in another AFC Championship Game and 2023, he’s landed the biggest contract in NFL history. That’s a nice stretch of success. I always say Joe practices the four C’s. He’s cool, calm, collected and most importantly, he’s confident.
