Joe Burrow went to the Paris Fashion Week and proved that he could easily have been a model if it weren’t for football. Burrow’s walk in Paris has the paparazzi running around him to this day and even Hall of Famers like Howie Long can’t ignore the Cincinnati Bengals QBs undeniable aura. The lights will only get brighter from here.

But being a Super Bowl runner up, a Paris Fashion Week model isn’t the only highlight of Joe Burrow’s extensive resume. From Broadway Joe to Joe Shiesty-he can do it all! Peter King, the esteemed sports columnist even placed him in his list of the top 22 most influential NFL players. But Burrow being compared to Joe Namath is probably something unprecedented.

Two Joes, 2 different eras

Howie Long came on the Green Light podcast and the duo discussed Burrow’s Fashion Week antics. Apparently, the 2000 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee saw a little bit of Joe Namath in Joe Burrow and had an interesting anecdote to share about the past. “Who did you think was the coolest damn guy in the 80s?” was the question that the former Raiders DE had to answer.

“I think you’re probably being a little nostalgic,” said the Hall of Famer. “But I think Burrow reminds me kind of little bit of Joe Namath. He’s got a little Joe Namath in him; you know what I mean? A little more kind of polished. Joe [Namath] went to the Jets and that’s you know, you go to the Jets and that’s the biggest market at that time.” Amazing recall, just like Namath’s dominance with the Jets and his scripting history is something the Burrow’s fans will be anticipating, especially after the season-ending injury last year.

Namath proclaimed that he was going to win the Super Bowl with the Jets and he did! You know what’s surprising about that? That was the first NFL-AFL championship game that was dubbed the Super Bowl and Namath and his New York Jets ended up winning it against the Baltimore Colts of the time. The game happened on January 12, 1969, and one of the most legendary coaches Don Shula was defeated that day!

The Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7 and that’s the only Super Bowl that the Jets have won to this day. Burrow took the Bengals to the Super Bowl against the Rams in his second year, which might add to the list of reasons, apart from looks of course, as to why he just can’t stop attracting Joe Namath comparisons. It will all be a full circle if Joe Burrow manages to claim a Super Bowl title after all he is known for his injury comebacks.

Joe Burrow finds a spot with the NFL legends

Chad Johnson is the only Bengal in recent times who had more popularity to stretch his name across the seven seas. That’s when Joe Burrow showed up and took the Bengals to the Super Bowl and nothing was the same. Since then, Burrow has had a massive following and all people want is to watch him signal call again. Hopefully, he’s healthy now.

“In today’s sporting/social landscape, it’s almost as important to be groovy as it is to be good. And Joe Burrow is Joe Cool. In leading the formerly woebegone Bengals to the Super Bowl last year, Burrow not only became a top-tier quarterback but a major influencer,” wrote King in his column.

Being labeled “groovy” is the most ‘80s thing ever, no? But do you want to know the real reason why Joe Cool is in the top 22 list? This is why: “The reason why I think Burrow has shot to the top of NFL Q ratings is not only his ability and his Gen-Z-appealing fashion sense but also his attitude. He really has some Namath in him, the ability to play like the ultimate tough guy and at the same time having an I-could-care-less-what-you-think-of-me attitude. He doesn’t get nervous or tight in big moments,” per Peter King’s column.

Burrow’s injury was perhaps the most devastating thing that happened last year, especially for the Bengals fans. His charisma, sportsmanship, and no-BS attitude are perhaps some of the qualities that are authentic that amass a huge following. Even in France, where he draped up with his boy Justin Jefferson, his popularity hit the roof. As for pulling a Joe Namath, we’ll see what happens this year as the Bengals take the New England Patriots on September 8.