Joe Burrow is set to achieve a goal that has eluded him for three consecutive years: getting the Cincinnati Bengals back to the playoffs.
What happened?
Burrow's journey to the NFL was not straightforward, having transferred from Ohio State to LSU in 2018.
He rewrote LSU's record books in 2019, throwing for 5,671 yards and 60 TDs at 76.3%.
The Bengals selected Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Why it matters for Joe Burrow
Burrow's rookie contract was worth $36 million over four years, with everything guaranteed.
He once revealed what receiving his first NFL paycheck felt like, saying his signing bonus alone was around $24.6 million.
What comes next?
Burrow's earnings in the NFL have since skyrocketed, having signed a five-year, $275 million extension ahead of the 2023 season.
On Tuesday, the Bengals restructured his contract, converting a portion of his salary into bonus money and creating roughly $10 million in cap space.
Burrow is now 29 years old and entering his seventh NFL season, having led the league in passing yards in 2024.
He has also battled injuries that have cost him significant time in three of his six professional seasons.
With a rebuilt defense and improved depth throughout the roster, Burrow enters 2026 facing one of the most important seasons of his career.