Joe Burrow put the pen to paper on Saturday because the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback signed the richest-ever NFL contract.
The Bengals confirmed studies that the deal is for 5 years and $275 million. Spotrac lists the contract with $219 million in assured cash.
The Bengals made Burrow, from Athens, Ohio, the No. 1 general choice of the 2020 NFL Draft.
“My father at all times stated that within the NFL, the quarterback is like the important thing to your automobile,” stated Bengals president Mike Brown, whose father was the legendary coach Paul Brown. “You possibly can have an incredible automobile, however you want a key to get the automobile going and to function it at a excessive degree. We really feel that we’ve a superb one in Joe.”
The contract extension kicks in with the 2025 season and runs by way of 2029. He’ll earn $5.5 million this season within the ultimate yr of his four-year rookie deal and $29.5M in 2024 on his fifth-year choice.
Head coach Zac Taylor stated Burrow, a fourth-year captain, is the appropriate quarterback for his staff.
“Quarterback is probably the most crucial place in sports activities, and Joe has embraced his function right here with intelligence and willpower,” Taylor stated. “The staff responds to Joe as our quarterback, and we sit up for a vivid future with Joe persevering with to steer our gifted roster. He makes everybody higher.”
Burrow was on the roster at Ohio State for 3 years earlier than transferring to LSU, the place he received the Heisman Trophy and a nationwide championship. The truth that he has discovered his success in Ohio is important, he stated Saturday.
“I had some unfinished enterprise in Ohio. My one athletic failing up to now, in my view, is my time at Ohio State,” he stated, carrying his Athens Excessive Faculty soccer sweatshirt. “I did not get to play. So to return again and type of redeem myself in that approach has been necessary to me.”
Burrow has began 42 profession regular-season video games for the Bengals and already has single-season franchise data for passing makes an attempt (606 in 2022), completions (414 in 2022), passing yards (4,611 in 2021), landing passes (35 in 2022), and passer ranking (108.3 in 2021). Amongst NFL quarterbacks with a minimal of 1,500 profession go makes an attempt, he’s the chief in completion share with 68.2.
He additionally led the Bengals to their first Tremendous Bowl since 1989 following the 2021 season, a 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Tremendous Bowl LVI.
Burrow, 26, strained his calf early in coaching camp and missed a month of observe and all three preseason video games earlier than returning final week. Taylor stated Burrow will begin the season opener on Sunday towards the Browns in Cleveland.
—Discipline Degree Media