Tom Brady has watched many of the best NFL quarterbacks enter the league and develop into stars during his Hall of Fame career. As his playing days come to an end, it seems Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has made quite the impression.
While Brady entered the league with far less fanfare than Burrow, there are some similarities between the two. Like Cincinnati’s face of the franchise, Brady suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for months and forced him to go through the grueling rehab process to return to form.
Now more than a year after Burrow suffered a devastating knee injury in his rookie season, he is playing the best stretch of football in his career. More importantly, he is carrying the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988. Needless to say, Brady is impressed.
- Tom Brady stats (2021): 5,316 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns, 102.1 QB rating. 67.5% completion rate
:I think Joe’s got some tools that I didn’t quite have when I was his age, so super impressed by how he’s kind of come into the league and went to Cincinnati, which has been a tough place to play over the years. And, you know, two years into his career, after a really tough injury last year, showed a lot of mental and physical toughness coming back and having an incredible season.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady on Bengals QB Joe Burrow, via Let’s Go! podcast
Expectations were extremely low for Cincinnati entering the season. In a best-case scenario, some thought they might have an outside chance to compete for the playoffs if everything went perfectly. Now, Burrow is preparing for his first Super Bowl after knocking off the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs.
- Joe Burrow stats (2021): 4,611 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, 108.3 QB rating, 70.4% completion rate.
While Cincinnati’s rapid improvement this season is a surprise, it’s also a level that Brady seemed to always believe Burrow could reach because of his commitment to the game and his past success.
“I always love watching quarterbacks, and certainly young quarterbacks cuz I feel like, you know, there’s certain ways to play the game, and to play the game at a high level requires a huge commitment. I think Joe, even from when I saw him at LSU, you know, he makes that commitment. So it’s really a great thing for me to see as, you know, someone who’s played this game a long time. So really happy for Joe and his team.”
Tom Brady on Joe Burrow’s work ethic and level of commitment to football, via Let’s Go! podcast
Brady won his first Super Bowl in his second NFL season. If Burrow’s Bengals knock off the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, it could be the start of a Hall of Fame career for Cincinnati’s star. It would be even more fitting if he becomes one of the newest faces of the NFL as Brady retires.