June 12th, 2025
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more electric, head-turning return in the NFL this past season than Joe Burrow’s. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback didn’t just bounce back from a season-ending wrist injury in 2023, he came back with a vengeance, slicing through defenses and making believers out of doubters. The result? Burrow was rightfully crowned the 2024 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and it wasn’t even close.
Rehab, doubt, and questions about his return
In November 2023, Burrow suffered a torn ligament in his throwing wrist. For Cincinnati Bengals fans, it was déjà vu all over again. A few years earlier in 2020, Burrow's rookie season was cut short by a vicious knee injury. Jump ahead to 2023, and the story was familiar: A franchise quarterback, out, his team's season on the line.
But if we’ve learned anything about Joe Burrow, it’s this: Count him out at your own peril.
Lighting up the league in 2024
After surgery and months of grueling rehab, Burrow entered the 2024 season with questions swirling. Could he still be elite? Would the wrist limit his throws? Could the Bengals contend in a competitive AFC North? He answered every single question with authority.
Burrow threw nearly 4,918 yards, lost 43 touchdowns, and had a staggering passer rating of 108.5 while throwing more than 70% of passes completed. Burrow led the NFL in a number of key categories and set some records along the way, including a streak of eight consecutive games with a minimum of 250 passing yards and three touchdowns. For perspective, the previous record was six games by Tom Brady. That's company that's typically reserved for Hall of Famers, and Burrow not only joined it, he exceeded it.
The Bengals' revival and Burrow's leadership
It wasn't padding the stats either. Burrow directed the Bengals from an unbalanced 1-4 beginning to a 10-7 conclusion. Though Cincinnati came up just short of the playoffs, his leadership left them in contention until the last week of the season.
This led to finishing the regular season on a five-game win streak that energized the city of Cincinnati. So yeah, Comeback Player of the Year award? Well-deserved.
Making NFL history again
Burrow actually joined the NFL history books as the second player to receive the award twice, Chad Pennington being the first. His first was in 2021 after the ACL tear. This recent honor adds to his legacy, not just as one of the NFL's most talented signal-callers, but one of its toughest.
Chase, chemistry, and a well-oiled offense
What is more impressive about the return is the context. Quarterbacks who are coming back from serious injuries have a hard time finding their rhythm. Timing, confidence, decision-making, those are all things that can fall behind. But Burrow? He looked like he never missed a beat.
Some of that is due to the chemistry he shares with Ja'Marr Chase, his old college teammate now transformed into an NFL superstar, who also had a banner year with the triple crown of receiving: most receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.
The mental game: Quiet confidence and calm under pressure
Let's not underestimate the mental fortitude at play here either. It's easy to make guesses at physical rehab, but the psychological side, believing in your body again, dealing with media mythology, and carrying a team's expectations, is another ball game altogether. And Burrow, with his characteristic aplomb and confidence, made it look easy.
Other contenders, but Burrow won the crown
Of course, there were some who argued that others were deserving contenders for the award. There were rumors for players such as Damar Hamlin, who returned to the field emotionally after suffering a life-threatening cardiac arrest in 2022. Although his story is certainly inspiring, Burrow's play on the field simply meant more to the voters.
Big plans for 2025 and MVP buzz
In the years to come, expectations are sky-high for Burrow and the Bengals. And they are.
Cincinnati has fortified its roster in free agency and the draft, addressing holes on the O-line and defense. Burrow's supporting cast seems sturdy, and the coaching staff seems determined to extract every last bit of production from his prime years. Most books now have him listed among the early favorites in the 2025 MVP race, behind only Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.
A natural winner and a favorite among bettors
And speaking of betting, if you’re into that sort of thing, it’s been fun to see how some platforms have embraced the drama of NFL comebacks. Some betting operators have gotten in on the action early, offering creative prop bets on potential Comeback Player candidates before the season even kicked off.
Not everyone pegged Burrow as the frontrunner coming off surgery, but those who bet on his resurgence certainly cashed in. However, other operators, such as for example Rooli Casino, are still solely focusing on online casinos, by providing casino games and experiences of high quality.
Burrow’s story is far from over
Whether you’re a Bengals diehard or just someone who appreciates a good underdog story, Burrow’s 2024 season had it all: Adversity, triumph, broken records, and leadership. And he’s only 28.
The future is bright in Cincinnati. With Burrow healthy, refreshed, and playing some of the best football of his career, it's hard not to believe that a deep playoff run, or even a Super Bowl, is within grasp.