Cincinnati Bengals duo Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase famously formed bonds when they played LSU to a national title. When the Bengals already boasting about Burrow who was a star, decided to select Chase the following year, Chase received an SMS by his previous (and currently) quarterback.
“I don’t know if that was a hint or not, but when I saw that text I said, ‘OK, I’m ready,'” Chase said to ESPN that the Bengals selecting him as number. 5 overall.
ESPN examined offensive connections made in the college game before they carried across to the NFL. There were also those of the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle (via Alabama), the Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray and Hollywood Brown (via Oklahoma) and The Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and De Vonta Smith (via Alabama) as well as The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne (via Clemson) and The Oakland Raiders’ Derek Carr and Davante Adams
However, none of these groups has had as much NFL popularity that has Burrow or Chase. Also, Chase claimed that the chemistry began with the moment Burrow stated his trust of Chase when he was at LSU.
“He was just telling me, ‘Bro, if I see one-on-one, I’m going to throw it up to you,'” Chase stated in August. “That right there let me know that he believes I’m a great receiver and that I can make plays. When he told me that, it’s just my part to make the play and let him keep believing that I can do it.”
Burrow took home his Heisman Trophy in 2019, throwing for 5671 yards, and scoring 60 times, with only six interceptions. Chase took the majority of the touchdowns and yards receiving 84 passes for more than 1,780 yards, and twenty touchdowns winning the Biletnikoff Trophy in the process. Both players played a key role in leading LSU to the perfect 15-0 mark and an NCAA championship.
Burrow quit to join the NFL and was snatched from Bengals Bengals with the no. one overall pick. Chase was still a year of eligibility left but opted out of the game for COVID-19. The Bengals also added Chase to Burrow one year later and Cincinnati was rewarded immediately with the initial Super Bowl appearance since the 1988 season. Burrow completed 70.4 percent of his passes, resulting in 461 yards and 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Chase taking 81 throws to gain 14,55 yards with 13 scores.
It should serve as an inspiration to any team looking to benefit from the relationship that was established prior to the NFL. Although most will not reach this degree of achievement but it’s clear that the Burrow to Chase partnership has earned an influx of online fans too.
“Everybody knows the meme: ‘Eff it, Ja’Marr’s down there somewhere,'” Burrow declared. “I’m gonna just throw it up to him and he’s gonna make a play.”