About

Joe Burrow is the cool-but-blazing quarterback who transformed the Cincinnati Bengals into perennial contenders. Born on December 10, 1996, the 6-foot-4 passer was the first choice of the 2020 NFL Draft and has already earned two Pro Bowl selections and two Comeback Player of the Year awards, thanks to his accurate passing and ice-cold composure under fire—attributes for which he earned the monikers “Joe Cool” and “Joe Brrr.”

The Bengals reaffirmed their trust in September of 2023 by signing Burrow to a record deal through the 2029 season, securing the largest annual salary in league history at the time.

Injuries have tried—but failed—to slow him down. After season-ending wrist surgery late in 2023, Burrow declared during 2025 training camp that he now feels “close to perfect,” flashing the deep-ball zip that Bengals fans know so well. Staying on the field is his top priority after previous knee and calf setbacks.

Bios

Position:	Quarterback
Weight:	98KG
Hometown:	Athens, Ohio
Prev School:	Athens High School, Ohio
Height:	6-4
Joe Burrow Net Worth	$50 Million

Before Fame

Burrow’s football journey began in Ames, Iowa, where his father, veteran defensive coach Jim Burrow, served on the Iowa State staff. Coaching assignments shuffled the family from North Dakota to ultimately settle in Athens, Ohio, where Joe Don first wore a quarterback’s wristband because the pee-wee squad just needed someone to throw.

At Athens High School, he redid the record books—11,416 passing yards, 157 touchdown throws, and a 14-1 senior year that brought him Ohio’s Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year awards. The Bulldogs won their first seven playoff victories in school history under his command.

Recruiters noticed, but Burrow’s journey wasn’t a linear dash. He languished three seasons behind stacked depth charts at Ohio State before wagering on himself and transferring to LSU. That bet paid off in grand fashion: a 60-touchdown 2019 season, a national title, and a Heisman Trophy that he used as a podium to bring attention to hunger in his hometown.

Trivia

• Chessboard strategist – Burrow keeps a chess set by his locker and often challenges teammates on flights or in the locker room. He loves the way the game mirrors reading defenses: “You have to plan your moves.”
• Heisman speech ripple – His emotional words on food insecurity inspired over $700,000 in donations, prompting the establishment of the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund for the Athens County Food Pantry.
• Comic-book wheels – In 2024, he added a reported $2.9 million replica Batmobile to his collection of cars, a reference to his superhero crush as a kid.
• Kid Cudi super-fan – The rapper named a bonus track after him, and Burrow often warms up with Cudi’s music blaring in his headphones.
• Locker-room nicknames – Teammates have alternated between “Joe Sheisty,” “JB9,” and “Super Burrow,” the last borrowed from his brothers’ childhood teasing.

Family Life

Football threads run deep in the Burrow household. His dad, Jim, played CFL and coached for over four decades, and his mom, Robin, is a former schoolteacher and community leader. Both have been visible pillars of support during his college and NFL climbs.

Joe is the youngest of three boys. Older brothers Jamie and Dan suited up at the University of Nebraska, giving him early practice in backyard competitions. They still call him “Super Burrow” and frequently travel to games—often armed with homemade signs and playful trash talk.

On the personal level, Burrow keeps his life private. He was in a relationship with college girlfriend Olivia Holzmacher for a few years, fueling engagement speculation in 2023 that never panned out. News in 2025 paired him with model Olivia Ponton, but the quarterback has kept romantic arrangements off the record and instead wants the focus to remain on football.

Associated With

• Ja’Marr Chase – The Burrow-to-Chase connection started at LSU and seamlessly carried to Cincinnati, piling up thousands of yards and dozens of touchdowns. Analysts already rank it among the most electrifying QB-WR pairings ever.
• Tee Higgins – As another big-play target, Higgins forms the other corner of Cincinnati’s receiving triangle, giving Burrow one of the deepest pass-catching rooms in the league.
• Zac Taylor – The Bengals head coach often praises Burrow as “the best player in the world,” and their sideline chess matches—sometimes caught by cameras—show the mutual trust that fuels the offense.
• Ed Orgeron – LSU’s gravel-voiced coach green-lit Burrow’s transfer and offensive freedom, laying the groundwork for that legendary 2019 season and ultimately his first-overall draft slot.
• Community partners – From the Athens County Food Pantry to the Joe Burrow Foundation and a recent 30,000-meal pledge with Kodiak Cakes, he teams up with nonprofits to fight hunger and support children’s mental health in Ohio, Louisiana, and beyond.