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Before Joe Burrow became the face of the Cincinnati Bengals and one of the NFLs most recognizable quarterbacks, he was just another kid growing up in Ohio watching football stars battle it out on the field and wanting to emulate them.
In a recent GQ interview , Burrow revealed the four players who stood out to him most when he was younger: Michael Vick, Randy Moss, Reggie Bush and Drew Brees.
I really liked Mike Vick.
I liked Randy Moss.
Those were the two jerseys I had when I was little, Burrow said.
I really liked Reggie Bush, really liked Drew Brees.
Those are the four.
Joe Burrow on his favorite players growing up: "I really liked Mike Vick.
I liked Randy Moss.
Those were the two jerseys I had when I was little." "I really liked Reggie Bush, really liked Drew Brees.
Those are the four." (via @GQMagazine ) pic.twitter.com/m32Fae67Sl SleeperBengals (@SleeperBengals) June 21, 2026 Vick was one of the most electric quarterbacks the league has ever seen, finishing his career with 22,464 passing yards, 133 passing touchdowns and a then quarterback-record 6,109 rushing yards.
He changed how the position was viewed because of his ability to break games open as a runner while still threatening defenses vertically.
Many consider Moss to be one of the greatest and most dominant wide receivers in NFL history.
Across 14 seasons, he totaled 982 catches, 15,292 receiving yards and 157 touchdowns, while winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and earning a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He was fast and his ball-tracking ability made him a nightmare matchup and one of the defining offensive players of his era.
Bush brought a different kind of explosiveness.
He won the 2005 Heisman Trophy at USC and entered the NFL as one of the most hyped prospects of his generation.
While his pro career did not match the expectations of his college dominance, he still finished with more than 9,000 scrimmage yards, won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints and was one of the leagues most versatile open-field threats.
Then there is Brees, the quarterback on Burrows list whose game most closely resembles his own.
Brees retired with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdowns, won Super Bowl XLIV MVP, made 13 Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.
He also became one of the most accurate passers in league history, setting the standard for timing, anticipation and pocket command.
Watching Burrow play, its easy to see why he idolized these four players growing up.
There is Vicks confidence and flair, Moss downfield aggression, Bushs playmaking instincts and Brees precision as a passer.
And while he continues to rank these greats high, Burrow has built his own profile.
He led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns in 2024 and took the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in just his second NFL season.
At the moment, the notable individual honors like MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, and a championship have eluded Burrow.
But as he prepares to lead the Bengals again in his seventh NFL season, theres strong optimism he could add to his resume in 2026.