Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase: BFFs (Best Football Friends)
Ja’Marr and Joe, two peas in a pod (Getty Images)
Dynamic duos are a key element in every success story. Batman has Robin, Sherlock has Watson, Tina has Amy, and in the Bengals case, Joe has Ja’Marr. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when you find that perfect match that complements you to become an unstoppable force together, and for the game-winning duo, the magic began long before they were dominating the AFC North. This is a story about success, sportsmanship, support, and most of all, friendship.
Starting From the Beginning
Teammates at LSU (Getty Images)
Joe started his college journey in 2015 at Ohio State, where he played for three seasons before transferring to LSU in 2018. The move proved to be a successful one as Ja’Marr joined the team in 2019, and the two star players became unstoppable together. In 2019, Ja’Marr had 20 receptions, setting the Southeastern Conference (SEC) record for touchdown receptions in a season. But the achievement was a joint effort, as Joe led the NCAA with 5,671 yards in the season, proving their incredible chemistry on the field. With such impressive results during the regular season, it came as no surprise that the Tigers went on to win the championship title.
Reunited and It Feels So Good
Their time together was briefly interrupted in 2020. Joe went on to become the Bengals first overall draft pick, leaving his winning team behind to move on to the big league. While the team didn’t have the best year (4-11-1 record), Burrow still managed to break the record for completed passes in a game by a rookie quarterback (36). Unfortunately, in Week 11 he suffered a knee injury that forced him to sit out the rest of the season.
While he was eager to come back for the 2021 season, there was some extra motivation for him to do so: the Bengals drafted Ja’Marr as the 5th pick of the first round, bringing Joe’s partner in crime by his side once again—it is said Joe texted Ja’Marr “Get your bags packed” before the draft. It was clear their on-field chemistry was as present as ever, with the Bengals advancing and winning their first playoff game since 1990. The dynamic duo led the team to Super Bowl LVI, where they sadly lost to the LA Rams in a close 23-20 game. However, Ja’Marr was named 2021’s AP Offensive Rookie Player of the Year, and Joe was the AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Joe and Ja’Marr are back on the same team (Fox)
Joe is aware of the impact their friendship has on the playing field, stating to Complex’s Kameron Hay:
“Well, I think part of establishing that connection on the field first is establishing that connection off the field and we’re really good friends. We have a strong bond off the field and that translates onto the field. I think everybody can see that.”
It’s clear that the two of them are a perfect match, and the pair’s incredible dynamic doesn’t go unnoticed by fellow players. Justin Jefferson, the Vikings stellar wide receiver, was also a teammate to the pair during their championship-winning LSU days, and he expressed his sentiments on seeing his former Tigers players continue sharing the field. Justin opened up while visiting Kevin Hart’s YouTube show, saying, “I love them together. I love the chemistry that they have with each other, but there's definitely some jealousy on that side.”
Keeping the Dream Team Alive
Joe and Ja’Marr 4ever (USA Today)
Since then, the teammates have seen the Bengals go through ups and downs. In 2022, they went on to reach the Conference Championship game, but their hopes to reach a second Super Bowl were cut short when they lost to the Chiefs 20-23. Eager to keep going, their 2023 season was once again disrupted by Burrow’s second season-ending injury in a Week 11 game against the Ravens.
Joe returned for the 2024 season ready for more, while Ja’Marr’s future with the Bengals was undecided. The wide receiver was hoping to secure his spot in Cincinnati with a contract extension, but the Bengals chose to go with the 5th-year option in his contract instead, leaving a question mark on how his future would look once the season was over. This seemed to fuel a desire to prove himself as a valuable piece in the squad, finishing the year earning a triple crown—the wide receiver leading the league in receiving touchdowns, receiving yards, and receptions in a single season. Sadly, their efforts were once again short of playoff contention. However, during the 2025 NFL Honors, Joe once again won the AP Comeback Player of the Year, and Ja’Marr was named FedEx Ground Player of the Year.
Once the offseason came, questions about Ja’Marr’s future rose again. While his previous negotiation had failed, the discussions picked up to decide if he should stay in Cincinnati or begin looking for other options. However, Joe was the first one to speak up on his behalf to make sure his partner wasn’t leaving his side. "I know how important it is to keep great players together, and so I'm going to do what it takes, and I know they will too," he said during an appearance at the “Up and Adams Show” with Kay Adams, referring to the faith he had in the organization’s decision-making process. To further prove his support for his teammate, he even discussed the possibility of renegotiating his own multi-million dollar contract to free up the cap space needed to re-sign Ja’Marr, a true testament to the lengths he’d go to make sure the dream team stayed together.
In the end, Joe’s wishes came true, with the Bengals extending Ja’Marr’s contract until 2029. The duo celebrated with a heartwarming hug. With Joe signed until 2028, it’s now a reality that the pair will continue disrupting the league and reaching new milestones, all while proving the chemistry that serves as the foundation of a true friendship can translate into a successful QB/WR duo. If their first four seasons together have shown us anything, it’s that this gifted pair is only getting started.