When you’re the face of an NFL franchise, the spotlight never fades – and Joe Burrow knows it better than most in the league. Just weeks ago, the Bengals QB made his TV debut in season two of Netflix’s “Quarterback”. At first, he wasn’t interested, but with Hall of Famer QB Peyton Manning serving as executive producer, Burrow agreed. “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,” Burrow admitted. That says a lot about his mindset. Even when offered more fame, Burrow prioritized trust, image, and protecting his team. But now, the same NFL star who usually wins hearts is facing a wave of mixed reactions.

While Burrow has preferred to keep a low profile, his popularity keeps skyrocketing. Why? Fans have followed the Bengals quarterback both on and off the field, mainly due to his performance in the league. In 2024, Joe Burrow threw for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns, and just 9 interceptions. He also completed over 70% of his passes and posted a 108.5 passer rating. Those were the numbers of a truly elite QB. Even in a preseason loss to the Eagles, the QB impressed football analyst Dan Orlovsky, who called him “flawless” and declared, “There’s no one better in the league right now throwing the football than Joe Burrow.” But amidst all the praise, one late-night moment on the streets of Cincinnati has everyone talking now. And it’s something that relates to Aaron Rodgers‘ past incident.

In a recent clip that went viral, Joe Burrow was seen walking towards his car in the middle of the night when a group of fans approached him. Most took selfies while keeping pace with him. But one persistent fan kept asking for an autograph. The fan held out a binder with cards taped inside and pleaded, “Just one, please, for a kid.” The fan also said that he had spent hours waiting to see Burrow.

It is also interesting to note that in the clip, the word “stalked” had appeared on the screen to suggest Burrow was being followed. In the end, the QB did not stop to sign. Some fans saw it as cold behavior. Others saw it as justified. Why the divide? 

It was not the first time Joe Burrow’s fan interactions had made headlines. Back in May this year, he stopped after the Bengals’ first training camp practice to sign autographs. In one viral moment, he even told a group of adults to stop pushing kids out of the way, promising to stick around so everyone could get a turn. That day, he made plenty of Bengals fans happy. So what changed this time? 

Maybe the Bengals QB was being more cautious. Big-name athletes know the autograph market is huge. Some resellers target them aggressively. Many players choose to sign only for kids or limit how much they sign. Joe Burrow might have been protecting himself. But some fans compared him to other quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson or Baker Mayfield to suggest that they might not have refused. But in reality, Burrow’s approach mirrors that of another star QB – Aaron Rodgers.

Joe Burrow follows Aaron Rodgers’ playbook while dealing with fanaticism

Aaron Rodgers has been in the league for over two decades. He has dealt with every kind of fan interaction you can imagine. And just this year, he faced a moment strikingly similar to Joe Burrow. At the 2025 American Century Championship, Aaron Rodgers had turned down an autograph request from a fan claiming to have attended his first NFL appearance back in 2005. Why? 

The fan had shown Aaron Rodgers a ticket stub from the Packers’ 52-3 win over the Saints. But the QB came into that game late, in mop-up duty, so he didn’t buy the story outright. “You can look it up, and I’d believe you, then I’d sign your thing,” he said to the fan. He then called the fan an “autograph hound.” Even when the fan had offered to personalize it, Rodgers stayed firm. “You can’t fool me,” he added. That incident had also split public opinion. 

Some thought the veteran QB was rude. Others praised his vigilance. Autograph scalping is real, and it’s something stars like Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow have to navigate carefully. Yet, Rodgers hasn’t always been tough on fans. A few days ago at Steelers training camp, a fan set to leave for basic training made a sign asking for Rodgers’ autograph before shipping out. The QB noticed. He signed a football and also spent time chatting with the fan. 

Therefore, fan interactions aren’t always black and white. Joe Burrow’s refusal might seem out of character for those who remember his warm gestures in the past. But maybe he’s just learning to draw firmer boundaries just like Rodgers has. And if history is any proof, there will still be plenty of moments ahead where the Bengals’ QB will make fans smile again.