Professional athletes of all sports attended Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City, including Kevin Durant, John Cena, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Rob Gronkowski, Michael Chandler, Alex Rodriguez and many more. The event spanned three days and had games, interviews and more for sports fans to enjoy.
As is typically the case in the modern era, a big event such as this took social media by storm. While videos of some players on stage or during interviews at the event went viral, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went viral for a much different reason at the event.
Taylor Lewan Teases Joe Burrow About Viral Fanatics Fest Video
Burrow participated in a pitching target game at the event, and it’s safe to say he struggled during it. Many would have expected Burrow to excel at that challenge as a professional quarterback, but that wasn’t the case.
As a result, many fans on social media ripped him for the performance. One of those to chime in and roast Burrow was former NFL offensive tackle and co-host of the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast, Taylor Lewan.
Lewan took to ‘X’ to say, “Thank you Joe Burrow, thank you.”
Thank you Joe Burrow, thank you.
— Taylor Lewan (@TaylorLewan77) June 21, 2025
While many may wonder why Lewan was thanking Burrow, it is likely due to Lewan’s public struggles in throwing a baseball.
In early June, Lewan threw out the first pitch at a Cincinnati Reds game, and like the pitches Burrow was throwing during Fanatics Fest, the results were not ideal.
Taylor Lewan, First Pitch Mechanics pic.twitter.com/AxqzmESufM
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) June 6, 2025
Lewan’s first pitch was eerily similar to an infamous first pitch at Citi Field by Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson. Both are lefties and threw pitches way wide of the plate in a hilariously embarrassing fashion.
“This is the worst day of my athletic career, and that includes the Chandler Jones game,” Lewan posted on social media after the wild first pitch. “I need redemption.”
Lewan and Burrow’s humorous failures to throw a baseball make it clear that just because they are some of the best in the world in one sport does not mean instant success in another. Fans had a great time poking fun at the players, but that doesn’t change anything for these two NFL stars.
Lewan’s legacy is cemented as a three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle who has since moved on to a successful podcasting career in his post-NFL life. As for Burrow, the two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Comeback Player of the Year will look to lead the Bengals to another deep playoff run after back-to-back disappointing 9-8 seasons that resulted in missing the playoffs.
