Why Netflix's ‘Quarterback' fit Joe Burrow's delicate balance of public life and privacy

New York Times

07-07-2025

Joe Burrow wants what so many of us want. A nice meal, time with a select group of friends, no pretenses and a good time.
For the ordinary Cincinnatian, that's easy. Invite some old friends over, fire up the grill, serve a few spirits and start swapping stories.
For Burrow, arguably the most famous individual in Cincinnati sports history, such serenity can be more elusive than a Lombardi Trophy.
So as much as his stroll down the red carpet at the Met Gala in June or in Paris last year crossed Burrow over into the non-football public eye, more importantly, they offer an opportunity for a private, nonjudgmental, social environment.
Joe Burrow at the #MetGala pic.twitter.com/AzHz1nUL9G
— Variety (@Variety) May 5, 2025
'I would say the media all around the event is a little exhausting, but once you're actually there, it's just very private, and that's hard for me to come by these days,' Burrow said of the Met Gala. 'So the more opportunities that I can try to have a normal dinner party, a normal dinner, be around people that don't really don't know (why he's famous), don't care, just around good people, the more opportunities I'm going to take.'
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This is a guy who didn't complain about the idea of playing internationally, as most players do, but he lobbied for it. He expresses general interest in growing the game abroad and would relish being a face of that.
Welcome to the constant conflict as Burrow evolves in his superstar life outside football. He's private and eccentric, philanthropic but reserved, ambitiously global yet loyally local.
Burrow protecting and curating his image while trying to enjoy unforgettable life experiences doesn't come easily. It's clear the 28-year-old maintains one prerequisite in his approach to balancing both: Control.
That's why when he opens up his life with the release of Netflix's 'Quarterback' documentary on Tuesday, he'll do so without fear. And that's hard to achieve, coming off a year in which control over his privacy was violated to a larger extent than at any other moment in his professional life.
JOE BURROWKIRK COUSINSJARED GOFF
Quarterback Season 2 premieres July 8. pic.twitter.com/mTach9bzQr
— Netflix (@netflix) June 23, 2025
And, yes, learning about the home invasion that took place on his property the night of a December win in Dallas will be part of the show, but knowing that in exchange for access, he would receive an understanding that the show wouldn't burn him, made this a fun entry point.
One of the primary reasons he could take the show's producers at their word is that at there is someone at the top of the line who uniquely understands his plight.
'I think a big part was Peyton (Manning) being involved in it, too,' Burrow said. 'I have a lot of respect for him, obviously. What he did, does, is as a person, when that guy reaches out to you and asks you to do something, then … most of the time I'm not going to say no.'
Burrow could watch the episodes and offer his input, knowing his concerns would be understandable for Manning and his team.
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'Only positive things could come out of it,' Burrow said. 'He's going to protect me, protect our team, protect our organization. I have trust in him for saying that and trust that he's going to do that. I probably wouldn't have done it if he wasn't involved, but I have a lot of trust and faith in him to not do anything that would hurt me or the team.'
There was a comfort there for both Burrow and the team he represents, which was also doing the AFC North 'Hard Knocks' last season.
'Joe knows what he needs to do, does what he needs to do,' Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. 'Peyton Manning is a big part of this, and you're hard-pressed to find anyone that respects the game of football as much as he does, so I think he does a good job as part of that group. Talking his quarterbacks through it and understanding it's a great legacy to leave.'
The same can't be said in public endeavors outside of carefully curated environments.
That includes the pitfalls of fame as speculation swirls around a personal life he's always kept extremely close to the vest. Now, paparazzi snap shots late at night in the streets of New York, documenting where he's going and who he's with. He's not alone, of course; this is the norm for his ilk. From Tom Brady to Tony Romo to Aaron Rodgers to Jay Cutler to Josh Allen, interest in connections off the field is part of franchise quarterback culture.
Burrow pushes back against that, which came to a head when information about his house and who was in it went public during the break-in.
'I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one,' Burrow said after the incident. 'Way more is out there than I would want out there and that I care to share. So that's all I've got to say about that.'
It's hard not to be scarred from that incident while also trying to keep living his life. It's a delicate dance and can spiral in one viral moment. And it's a prime example of why control over who is allowed into the circle matters so much.
'That was definitely a curveball I didn't quite expect throughout the whole process, but the people involved in it, working on it day to day, were great and weren't too intrusive,' Burrow said. 'I worked with some good people with that.'
Other places have been enjoyable safe havens for him beyond Paycor Stadium.
He's taken to traveling internationally and dropping into the suites at Formula 1 races, taking part in Michael Rubin's 'white party,' holding a fundraising secret golf event and entrusting Manning's team with his story.
Same with the Met Gala, where he wasn't in a backless suit as he was at Paris Fashion Week in 2024, but was rubbing elbows with the brightest stars anywhere at one of the most prestigious events in the world of celebrity. There was peace in that.
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'It's a new experience,' Burrow said. 'It was fun. It's about five minutes of taking pictures, and then it's just a little dinner party. So it was good people, good vibes. I was happy that I was able to go.'
He missed a practice to do so, a decision that didn't even leave a mark inside the building because of what this staff and his teammates have seen for years. Burrow's access and celebrity might have changed, but as a leader of the team, he hasn't one iota.
'It's funny, all that stuff is just so far outside of my relationship with him, it's like another person,' offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. 'And I don't care, that's great. Do what you wanna do. Come here, do your job, be the best in the world at what we need you to be. At the end of the day, I care about you as a person. I want you to be happy. As long as he's able to do all those things and still be the guy we need him to be. And he hasn't shown us any reason to think that that's not the case.'
Much like his NFL journey, there have been bumps in the road for Burrow, but he's come out of his growth into public life with a unique, impressive perspective.
'Quarterback' will shine a light on that perspective while also showing Burrow's dedication to performing at a high level on the field and keeping winning a championship at the top of the priority list.