Joe Burrow isn’t one to make noise on social media. The Bengals quarterback has always let his play do the talking - calm, calculated, and confident.
So when he breaks a nearly two-year silence on X (formerly Twitter), it’s not without reason. And this past NFL Divisional Round weekend gave him just that.
Burrow took to the platform after a pair of controversial calls stirred up heated debates across the league. Two separate games, two high-stakes moments, and two rulings that sent fans into a frenzy.
First, there was the Saturday showdown between the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills, where a potential game-winning play was ruled an interception. Then came Sunday’s NFC clash between the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears, where a contested Davante Adams catch was ruled complete - a call that drew comparisons to the earlier decision in Buffalo.
While fans and even team owners voiced frustration - Bills heiress Jessica Pegula publicly called out the officiating crew - Burrow offered a different perspective. He didn’t point fingers at the refs. Instead, he turned the spotlight on the fans’ understanding of the rulebook.
“The amount of ppl that don’t understand what a catch is in the rule book flabbergasts me,” Burrow wrote. “And it’s not the officials. The two plays yesterday were not difficult calls, and they got them both right.”
That’s a strong stance, especially when the emotional weight of the weekend was still hanging in the air. The Bills’ season ended on that controversial interception - a play where Brandin Cooks appeared to make a catch, only for the ruling to go the other way.
Josh Allen was visibly emotional afterward. That kind of moment sticks with a fanbase.
But Burrow? He saw it differently.
He saw clarity in the chaos.
And he didn’t stop there. Burrow also weighed in on the Rams-Bears call, where Davante Adams was awarded a catch on a play that looked strikingly similar to the one in Buffalo. Again, Burrow backed the officials, saying both calls were correct under the current rules - and, notably, the league seemed to agree.
This wasn’t just a quarterback chiming in for the sake of it. Burrow is known for his football IQ, and his comments reflect a player who not only understands the game at a high level but also respects the nuance of NFL officiating. He’s not excusing missed calls - he’s saying these weren’t missed calls at all.
It’s rare to see a player step into the firestorm of a controversial playoff weekend and defend the officiating. But Burrow, in his usual cool-headed fashion, didn’t just speak - he educated. And if his read of the rulebook is any indication, it might be time for more fans to do the same.