Join Joe Burrow, award-winning former sports journalist with ESPN and host of the Unscripted Podcast. A proud native of Grapevine, Texas, he writes about the Cincinnati Bengals with supreme fidelity. Burrow earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. After spending time honing his craft at several Texas newspapers, including The Dallas Morning News, he joined ESPN in July of 2019. In addition to his beat coverage on ESPN.com, you can see him daily on SportsCenter and other network shows focused on the NFL.
In the past few weeks, Burrow has struggled after suffering a string of injuries that have kept him out for months at a time. He went out for the last seven games of the 2023 NFL season after tearing a ligament in his right wrist. On top of that, he missed nine games with a turf toe injury. Despite all these disappointments, Burrow still plans to come back on the field.
Last week, Burrow expressed confidence in his recovery process, stating, “What I can do is when it does happen, I can control how I’m attacking my rehab and attacking practice and doing everything in my power to get back as quickly as possible. That’s what I did.” To some, his competitiveness became a symbol of his wish to not just return, but be a huge part of his team’s success.
The Bengals are precariously positioned with a 3-8 overall record. Burrow thinks the only path to returning to the postseason is winning these final six games. For one, he laid to rest any notion that he considers taking games off when he’s healthy. In the interview, he further emphasized that he is not afraid of the risks associated with playing football. “I’m not ever going to go to somebody and say, ‘Yeah, I’m healthy, but I don’t think I should go out there and play,’” he affirmed.
Burrow’s resilience is further exemplified by his recent close call with a return to play against the New England Patriots. He was able to give the positive sign that if called upon, he was ready to play. He understood Coach Zac Taylor’s decision to allow him the additional time to recover. This joint decision shows a reasonable commitment to the healthy recovery of the player while weighing the present interests of their team.
On top of this, Burrow specifically called for players to hold each other accountable within the team. You still have to go out there and go make plays, play great within the system. Players need to be accountable and play better,” he stated. He stressed that success depends just as much on the collaborative effort as it does the states’ individual efforts.
Beyond his duties writing about the Bengals, Burrow’s understanding of the game goes deeper than just writing the stories. His past experiences provide him with a unique perspective on the challenges players face, especially those like himself who have battled injuries throughout their careers.
For now, as Burrow continues on his road to recovery, there’s no denying his commitment to the game and to his team. He’s a predator of everything condoned within professional sports. As in past years, even when times are darkest, it’s clear that his commitment to the rehabilitation process and the craft itself will translate into a bright comeback.
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