Even though he only just finished his third season in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, it’s already been a storybook football career for star quarterback Joe Burrow after he went from backup quarterback with the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national champion and Heisman Trophy winner with the LSU Tigers, then was selected No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals and led the team to the Super Bowl in just his second season. And that storybook career is not getting a literal storybook.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN, Joe Burrow’s first youth football coach, Sam Smathers, has co-written a book detailing his story and journey from the perspective of his hometown of Athens, Ohio.
“Joe Burrow’s first youth football coach Sam Smathers, along with co-author Scott Burson, have co-written a book about the Cincinnati QB called, ‘From Bulldog to Bengal: The Joe Burrow Story Through the Eyes of His Hometown’ that Orange Frazer Press will publish next month,” Schefter said in a tweet.
Joe Burrow’s first youth football coach Sam Smathers, along with co-author Scott Burson, have co-written a book about the Cincinnati QB called, “From Bulldog to Bengal: The Joe Burrow Story Through the Eyes of His Hometown” that Orange Frazer Press will publish next month. pic.twitter.com/hDVQRma9UI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2023
It’s a pretty major honor and announcement for such a young quarterback and the NFL world had plenty to say about the news on Twitter.
“He’s never won anything”.. god some of you are just downright stupid
NCAA Champion
Heisman Winner
AFC Championship Winner
Two AFC North TitlesAll in four years….
But “He’s never won anything” – coming from fat guys watching NASCAR typing with Dorito Crumbs on their stomach— Rodney Muterspaw (@chiefmuterspaw) March 6, 2023
Should be a good read
— Jacob Lintner (@lintnermedia) March 6, 2023
Wilmington publisher Orange Frazer getting a shout-out from @AdamSchefter! Good read for Bengals fans. https://t.co/jYNBvCJTik
— Tyler Williams (@tw1387) March 7, 2023
Sam used to offer me a beer before every Athens home game – as the play by play guy I was always tempted, but thought better of it.
Please preorder this book – and help out a man who's built on loyalty, love, football, and delicious food. https://t.co/Jb6EHvxsBa
— Lukas Moore (@MooreLukas) March 6, 2023
I met Sam Smathers in the fall of 2016 when I started covering the Athens Bulldogs for Power 105.5 in Southeast Ohio.
He told me on the first day I met him how special Joe Burrow is. This book is an amazing collection of those stories they shared with me. https://t.co/q1onMKa6de
— The 3AM Coney: A Bengals Podcast (@3amConey) March 6, 2023
Burrow still has plenty of time to add more chapters to his career, but a book like this is certainly an honor.
