Cincinnati Bengals OC Brian Callahan has another quarterback he cares deeply about apart from his QB Joe Burrow. The other quarterback is their upcoming opponent and the Los Angeles Rams, QB Matthew Stafford. Both Callahan and Stafford spent a lot of time with each other during their tenure with the Detroit Lions. Callahan claims to have enjoyed coaching Stafford during his formative years and is proud of the kind of quarterback he has become.

Callahan recalls his experience in Lions with QBs Matthew Stafford and Dan Orlovsky, stating, “They really made me a better coach, the two of them, and Matthew, in particular. “Getting to know a different style — he was a different style (quarterback) than I’d been around previously. His leadership style was different, his preparation was different.”

Read More: Bengals Win Hearts as They Dedicate Super Bowl Campaign to Gorilla Killed in Cincinnati Zoo: “We’re Doing This for Him”

He believes that his current QB Burrow is during that stage of his career and wants to give him the experience of a 10 year NFL veteran. He expresses no surprise in how Stafford has made the Super Bowl, having witnessed his competitive spirit first hand.

Matthew Stafford and his qualities shining through

Callahan admits that he wanted to pull for his former pupil to get to the biggest stage for an NFL athlete. He never saw it happening under the circumstances that it is currently unfolding within. The Bengals OC expressed his pleasure in working with the current Rams QB back then and described him as one of his favorite players to have ever worked. The clash between the Rams and the Bengals seems to have become a clash between Callahan’s past and present.

He draws comparisons between both QBs while pointing out the similarities between first-time Super Bowl-bound players. Callahan believes both Stafford and Burrow possess a similar kind of toughness which is key to making it in the league. He admires their hard-nosed ability to make clutch plays when they matter despite knowing they are about to get hit. There seems to be a throwback for Callahan which Burrow seems to be making him live again.

But unfortunately for Callahan, he will have one of his pupils lose out on the opportunity to be an NFL champion. Callahan points out that both can stand toe to toe with the best in the league. It will be a fascinating contest between two of the best that the NFL has to offer.

Watch This Story: Tom Brady Drops Hint About Possibility of Coming Out of Retirement: Never Say Never