Joe Burrow has a $275 million contract and a Super Bowl appearance on his resume, plus a strong supporting cast that is by his side. Behind every great athlete stands a family that helped shape their journey, and the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback’s story starts with two parents who understand both sports and sacrifice.
Meet Joe Burrow’s Parents — Jim and Robin Burrow
Joe Burrow was born to Jim and Robin Burrow on December 10, 1996, who had already had sons Jamie and Dan together.
Football runs deep in the Burrow family tree. All three sons eventually played the sport, with both Jamie and Dan suiting up for the University of Nebraska while Joe played for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the LSU Tigers.
Jim Burrow comes from an athletic background himself, having played college football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His playing career extended beyond college when he was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1976 NFL Draft, spending one season with Green Bay.
The elder Burrow’s professional career continued in the Canadian Football League, where he played separate stints with the Montreal Alouettes, Calgary Stampeders, and Ottawa Rough Riders. During his time in the CFL, Jim racked up 54 tackles, 17 interceptions, and four fumble recoveries.
After his playing days ended, Jim transitioned into coaching. He took various roles with Washington State, Iowa State, Ames High School, Nebraska, and North Dakota State. His most recent coaching position was serving as the defensive coordinator at Ohio University from 2005 through 2018.
How Did Robin Burrow Balance Career and Family?
Meanwhile, Robin Burrow attended school with hopes of working in the fashion merchandising industry. However, she would later change her career path after Joe’s birth and became a teacher before moving to the administrative side as an elementary school principal.
She retired several years ago and now serves as the secretary and treasurer of The Joe Burrow Foundation, whose mission is to provide resources and support to the underprivileged and underserved. The Foundation primarily serves Southeast Ohio, Cincinnati, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The career change at the time of Joe’s birth came down to family priorities and the realities of two parents with demanding travel schedules.
“I was traveling a lot and my husband was traveling a lot with coaching, so I ended up getting out of that field because we had Joe and it just was not conducive to our family life,” she explained. “It wasn’t the best thing for Joe.”
“If I got an outfit out and he didn’t like it, there was no way he was putting it on.”
Dove into a bunch of topics with Robin Burrow.
With her background in fashion, she had some fun insight on Joe Burrow’s choice in outfits. #Bengals @Fox19 pic.twitter.com/YIEVAkgwEx
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) May 22, 2025
Interestingly, Burrow’s well-known fashion sense may have roots in his mother’s original career path. Robin acknowledged that Joe inherited some style awareness from her, though she admits he’s taken it to another level entirely.
“He has taken over the swag. I used to be a part of the swag, but then I am not swaggy anymore, I think,” she laughed. “So, he is 100% on his own with the swag, but I personally like it.”
The Burrow family story shows how athletic success often stems from a foundation of family support and sacrifice. Both Jim and Robin made career decisions that prioritized their children’s development, creating the environment that helped produce not just one, but three football-playing sons.
