We’re one day away from the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. Every player on the Bengals’ 90-man roster now has a profile page. Check out previous player profiles here.

The final player of the series is the face of the franchise.

Joe Burrow Player Profile

Age: 29
Year: 7th
Position: Quarterback
College: LSU
Jersey Number: 9

Joe Burrow was selected No. 1 overall in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Bengals. Prior to the NFL, Burrow spent three years as a backup at Ohio State (2015-17) before transferring to LSU (2018-19). He won the starting gig in his first year since he graduated from OSU early, but took the college game by storm in 2019 as he led the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 record that was capped off with the College Football Playoff National Championship.

The Heisman Trophy was Burrow’s by a larger margin than anyone else in history. His acceptance speech sparked a movement to help combat food insecurity in his childhood home of Southeastern Ohio. He set the FBS record with 60 passing touchdowns, the SEC record with 5,671 passing yards, and his 76.3 completion rate was second in FBS history. Many of those yards and TDs ended up in the hands of Ja’Marr Chase, whom Cincinnati drafted a year after Burrow.

Burrow’s NFL career has been a balance of on-field dominance and heartbreak. He’s put together three full seasons (2021-22, 2024) in his six years as the Bengals’ starter. In those years, he’s stacked 14,004 yards, 112 touchdowns to only 35 interceptions, and completed 69.7% of his attempts. That is top-of-the-league passing production. The Bengals made it to at least the AFC Championship Game in two of those years, and finished 9-8 in the other as their defense was near the bottom of the league.

The other three seasons, unfortunately, have been marred by injuries. A torn ACL as a rookie in 2020. Torn ligaments in his throwing wrist in 2023. Turf toe in 2025. All those years were derailed. His durability remains his biggest question as he’s developed into one of the most accurate passers in the history of the game with pre-snap recognition, processing ability, and pocket mobility to make every defensive coordinator full of angst.

Contract details

Burrow is entering the second year of his five-year, $275 million contract extension he signed in 2023. The deal was added on to the two years remaining of his rookie contract, including the fifth-year option that was exercised the same year of signing. He agreed to a contract restructure this offseason which converted $13 million of his original base salary into a prorated signing bonus. His new base salary for the season is $12,250,000, and he’s already earned a $10 million option bonus for the year as well. His total cash earnings for the year is $35,250,000. The restructure reduced his salary cap hit by $10.4 million and is now $37,599,784.

Roster outlook

Much has been said about Burrow this offseason as he’s made a few notable comments. His words have all revolved around one thing: urgency. He knows he’s in the prime of his career, as well as Chase and Tee Higgins as his main receivers. He’s made it clear the front office has done more to reload the roster in a single offseason than ever before.

He knows it’s on him and the rest of the players to make it count. That’s why he’s talking like it’s now or never. He’s not thinking about leaving next year if it all goes south. In fact, he’s not thinking about next year at all.

Burrow realizes the opportunity in front of him. If he comes back from another injury-riddled year and capitalizes on an improved defense, he can hoist the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy.

Roster odds: 100%