Joe Burrow could have had a better 2025 season than the one he had with the Cincinnati Bengals. The franchise missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season after a disappointing 6-11 record in the regular season.
The players are currently relaxing in the offseason period, and Burrow is also doing so. He has been frequently making headlines with his rumored girlfriend Olivia Ponton. Recently, another story regarding him has gone viral.
Joe Burrow’s youth coach once likened him to a serial killer
A viral story has recently revealed that when Burrow was nine years old, his youth basketball coach made an unusual observation of him. His coach was also a sociology professor at Ohio University, and shared his observation with Burrow’s parents after a game. He saw that the child had remarkable emotional control under pressure. This characteristic is usually found first responders, police officers, and serial offenders.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) looks for hands to shake after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The Browns kicked a last second field goal to win 20-18. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The story was famously told by former ESPN host Trey Wingo on the Caps Off Podcast. He said, “We got this note about Joe Burrow. When he was 9 years old, he was playing in an AAU basketball game, and his team was down by 8 points with 30 seconds to go. The coach said, ‘We kind of thought it was over.’ But then Burrow scored 9 straight points, including 7 straight free throws to give the team the win.”
After his coach met with the parents, he said, “In other words, his blood pressure doesn’t change whether he’s cutting the lawn or pulling people out of a building. I say this because I work with people and do sociology on crime. Thank God he’s not using his talents for bad because he could be the next Dexter. He is a stone cold killer.'”
While Burrow never went down those paths, he managed to become a top quarterback. The position also requires nerves of steel, which explains how the signal caller remains calm often. He recently came out to talk about another player.
Joe Burrow talks about veteran Bengals teammate
Burrow recently expressed his excitement at seeing backup quarterback Joe Flacco re-sign with the Bengals. Flacco’s contract had expired, but he is now confirmed for the next season.
Speaking on the Sports Seriously podcast, he said, “I am excited about having Joe back, he’s a guy that I like, I think we’re pretty similar people and he’s a funny guy, fun guy to be around, and played well when he was in there. I think we look at the world in a unique way and certainly have some unique takes on some things going on in the world, and it’s always interesting to have conversations with people who have a unique point of view on topics like that.”
Joe Burrow will have to prepare for the 2026 NFL season as the Cincinnati Bengals hopes for a better season.