Joe Burrow has signed a significant contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals just as the 2023 NFL season got underway. The deal spans five years and is worth $275 million, making Burrow the highest-paid player in NFL history in terms of annual salary, with $55 million per year, as reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Monday.
This extension was anticipated to occur before the start of the 2023 season and follows a recent trend where quarterbacks have successively become the highest-paid players in the league. Burrow's contract surpasses the previous record held by Justin Herbert, which had already exceeded those of Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts.
With this new agreement, Burrow no longer needs to play under the fifth-year option in 2024.
Since being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow has quickly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He has accumulated impressive statistics, throwing for 11,774 yards, 82 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions in just three seasons. Burrow has also led the Bengals to the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back years, a remarkable achievement for a franchise that had previously made very few conference championship appearances since its inception in 1968.
In 2021, he guided the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988 and their first playoff win since 1990, although they fell short of winning the championship.
The Bengals have chosen to reward Burrow for his exceptional contributions to the team's success, which is a significant moment in his young career. This extension ensures that he will continue to lead the Bengals for years to come.
With Burrow's future secured, the focus now shifts to the upcoming season. Cincinnati is considered one of the strong contenders in the competitive AFC, but Burrow missed most of the training camp due to a calf strain, similar to last year when he had an emergency appendectomy. The 2022 Bengals overcame a slow start to finish the regular season strongly and reached the AFC Championship Game, narrowly missing a Super Bowl appearance.
Maintaining consistency in their performance will be crucial for the Bengals as they begin their quest for homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs in Week 1. Burrow's leadership and winning track record suggest that the Bengals will remain competitive in the years ahead, despite the challenges of rising contract costs for other star players.