After an uncertain start to his college career at Ohio State, Joe Burrow went on to achieve remarkable success at LSU, leading the Tigers to a national championship and becoming the first overall NFL draft pick. His journey was marked by self-doubt, determination, and eventually, triumph.
Before becoming the highest-paid player in football and leading the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl, Joe Burrow faced significant challenges that tested his self-confidence and resilience.
Burrow began his college career at Ohio State, where he rarely saw the field over two seasons. Despite working hard in practice and feeling confident in his abilities, he doubted his worth as a quarterback.
Joe Burrow's Journey to Bengals Stardom: Doubting Himself at Ohio State to Leading LSU to a National Championship
"I was like, 'Do I have a warped sense of myself and how I’m playing or what kind of quarterback I am,'" Burrow said in a recent interview. "That was definitely tough those three and half years. I had so much confidence in the work that I was putting in off the field and the growth that I was having, but I felt like not a lot of people had confidence in me at that point."
Undeterred, Burrow transferred to LSU, where he quickly rose to prominence. In 2019, he shattered LSU records, throwing for over 60 touchdowns and over 5,600 yards, leading the Tigers to a national championship.
Joe Burrow's Journey to Bengals Stardom: Doubting Himself at Ohio State to Leading LSU to a National Championship
"All I had, like we talked about earlier, was the confidence in myself and the work that I was putting in would eventually come to light and pay off and thank God it did," Burrow said.
Burrow's success at LSU translated to the NFL. In his rookie year with the Bengals, he suffered a torn ACL, but returned the following season to lead the team to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams. The next season, he brought the Bengals to the AFC Championship, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Joe Burrow's Journey to Bengals Stardom: Doubting Himself at Ohio State to Leading LSU to a National Championship
Despite a wrist injury that ended his last season prematurely, Burrow has been a full participant in this training camp and is ready to lead the Bengals in the 2023 season.
Burrow's journey is an inspiring tale of perseverance, self-belief, and overcoming adversity. It demonstrates the power of hard work, dedication, and never giving up on one's dreams.
