Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, recently unveiled a new blonde buzzcut that has taken the internet by storm. The 27-year-old athlete’s unexpected hairstyle quickly drew comparisons to Eminem’s iconic “Slim Shady” look and WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes. Burrow revealed the simple reason behind the drastic change: boredom.
At a press conference following his viral appearance at training camp, Burrow explained his decision. He mentioned that the idea initially came up during a conversation with his teammate, B.J. Hill. “B.J. said that if I buzzed it and bleached it, he would do it, too. So now everybody’s gotta hold him accountable ’cause he’s gotta do it in the next week,” Burrow shared with a grin. Ultimately, the NFL star decided to follow through on the suggestion out of sheer boredom, saying, “I got bored, that’s about it.”
The internet was quick to react to Burrow’s new look, with many drawing parallels to Eminem’s platinum blonde phase and WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes. Rhodes himself joined in on the fun, posting a photoshopped image of Burrow wearing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship title on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Time to finish your story this season @JoeyB @Toms_Customs,” Rhodes captioned the post, referencing his own “finish the story” mantra.
Rhodes’ slogan originated after his return to WWE in 2022 following a six-year absence. The mantra symbolized his quest to achieve what his father, legendary wrestler Dusty Rhodes, never did—becoming WWE Champion. This fitting slogan now aligns with Burrow’s own journey, as he aims to lead the Bengals to glory after a challenging 2023-24 NFL season cut short by a wrist injury.
Despite the injury setback, Burrow remains optimistic about his recovery and future performance. “I was happy with [it] today. Still feeling it out, still have some throws where it’s like, ‘Well what did that look like?’ Usually goes where I want it to but doesn’t spin the way I want it to. So, we’re still working through that,” Burrow commented during the press conference, providing an update on his health.
As the new NFL season approaches, all eyes will be on Joe Burrow not only for his on-field prowess but also for his striking new look. Fans are eager to see if Burrow and the Bengals can “finish the story” and achieve the success they’ve been striving for.
