Joe Burrow is one of the young bright stars in the NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has his team grooving right now as they look to be in the conversation among the AFC’s best teams. Burrow has fought through a calf injury that occurred in training camp. He now looks to be over that injury, focused on the games ahead as Cincy looks to make a championship run.
While we all know Joe, not many know the man who raised him. That man is Jim Burrow, Joe’s father, who he chose to honor pregame as he entered the stadium ahead of Week 10. Joe opted to wear his father’s jersey, and as a result, it had many asking about the elder Burrow.
Who Is Jim Burrow?
James Arthur Burrow, more commonly known as Jimmy Burrow, is a former defensive back in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. He is also a retired college football coach and is probably more famously known for being Joe Burrow’s father.
Before being a father and a professional football player, Jim began his life in Hampton, Virginia, attending Amory High School. After the completion of high school, he played college football at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Jim Burrow’s Playing Days
Following his time at Nebraska-Lincoln, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1976 NFL Draft. Burrow played that one season with the team, appearing in three games during the season.
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After that initial season in the NFL, Burrow took his talents north of the border and began a career in the CFL playing for the Montreal Alouettes, the Calgary Stampeders, and the Ottawa Rough Riders. He played in 54 career CFL games, tallying 17 interceptions and four fumble recoveries en route to winning a Grey Cup Championship as well as two CFL All-Star selections.
Burrow’s Coaching Career
Following his playing days, Burrow embarked on a long and fruitful coaching career. It was a career that included stops at five different Division I programs, as well as a high school, and spanned over 37 years.
Burrow’s coaching stops included Washington State, Iowa State, Ames High School, Nebraska, North Dakota State, and Ohio. The decision to hang it up and get out of the coaching ranks coincided with Joe’s final season at LSU. He planned to attend Joe’s games that season, and he decided to put an end to a long career to do so.
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