Joe Burrow entered the 2023 NFL season with a fresh look, growing out his hair longer than what we have seen in his first three years in the league.
It did not take long for Burrow to revert back to his usual hairdo.
Burrow and the Bengals opened up this season in disappointing fashion, as the Browns' defense dominated on Sunday in a 24-3 win. The loss to Cleveland came just days after the Cincinnati QB became the highest-paid player in NFL history with a new five-year deal.
MORE: What Joe Burrow's NFL-record contract means for Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
Three days later, the 26-year-old face of the franchise debuted a different look, cutting his long locks and opting for the shorter style that he has rocked for a majority of his NFL career.
ICYMI:
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) September 13, 2023
Joe Burrow cut his hair. pic.twitter.com/61c4Q1Z0qH
The No. 1 pick from 2020 had one of his worst performances to date through the air, and the loss dropped Burrow's record to 1-5 in his career against the AFC North rivals.
Is the timing of the haircut just a coincidence, or did Burrow purposely chop off his hair after his poor showing on Sunday? The Sporting News explains.
Joe Burrow new haircut, explained
The new haircut for Burrow didn't come by accident. When asked about when he decided to get a haircut this week, the QB kept it short and sweet.
"When you have a game like that on Sunday."
When asked about his new haircut and when he knew it was time to change it up, Burrow responded “When you have a game like that on Sunday." https://t.co/NNteow5zon pic.twitter.com/SVYkvFiaki
— WLWT (@WLWT) September 13, 2023
He's not kidding either — for the most part. A follow up question was asked to Burrow about the haircut coinciding with his showing against Cleveland, and he wouldn't deny or confirm the motivation for the fresh look.
It's understandable why Burrow may have chosen to go back to his old haircut after the performance against the Browns. It was one of, if not the worst showings by Burrow since he started in the NFL in 2020.
MORE: Why Joe Burrow was pulled from Bengals opener amid miserable game
Burrow completed just 14 of his 31 pass attempts for 82 yards and no touchdowns, finishing with a quarterback rating of 52.2. His passing yards and passer rating were both career-lows, and the longest play through the air was a 12-yard pass to star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on the first drive.
There was no rhythm between Burrow and his wide receiving core. Chase brought in five of his nine targets, but only totaled 39 yards. Burrow targeted Tee Higgins eight times, but the wide receiver came up with no receptions.
The Bengals have a chance to bounce back in Week 2 with a home matchup against the Ravens. We'll see if Burrow's new look changes the outcome this time around.
