Joe Burrow Addresses Tom Brady Comparisons, Says ‘Don’t Compare Me To The Best Player Of All Time’

Former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow will most likely be the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but the reigning Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback isn’t looking for extra hype before he takes the field.

Burrow was asked about comparisons to Tom Brady on NFL Network to which he replied, “Please don’t compare me to the best player of all time. Let me do my own thing. Don’t do that to me, please,” Burrow said. Although he understood being compared to Brady was a compliment, Burrow added, “It is. But it’s Tom Brady.”

Burrow and Brady both had unique college careers before they entered the draft. Brady didn’t start until his junior year at Michigan in 1998 and eventually lead the Wolverines to a Citrus Bowl and Orange Bowl title in consecutive seasons. Burrow sat out the majority of three seasons at Ohio State only throwing 29 passes before transferring to LSU where he was named the starter as a redshirt junior. In his senior year, Burrow won the Heisman Trophy, won a National Championship and had one of the greatest seasons ever by a college football quarterback. Through 15 games, Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns with just six interceptions.

“I wasn’t ready to play at all (as a freshman), and everyone knew it,” Burrow told Yahoo Sports during the 2019 season. “I started from the bottom, and working and working and working. That’s a theme with all the great quarterbacks, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. They didn’t have it easy at any point.”

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The Bengals are favored to use their number one pick on Burrow who is an Athens, Ohio native. Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator Brian Callahan reportedly met with Burrow at the NFL Combine on Sunday and gave the 23-year-old high praise for his football IQ. Keep in mind Callahan previously coached Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford.

“They don’t put themselves in that position without being wired the right way,” Callahan said referring to Manning, Burrow and Stafford via the Bengals’ website. “Their preparation habits. Peyton was notoriously one of the best ever at preparation and Stafford quietly is right there with him.Put that talent on top of what they do with the mental part and you get an overall No. 1 pick. That’s everything I’ve heard (about Burrow). If that’s the way it goes and I get to be with a third overall No. 1 quarterback, that’s great. That usually means good things.”

Many experts feel Cincinnati has the talent around Burrow to compete for a playoff spot despite being the worst team in the league in 2019 with a 2-14 record.