In Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, Joe Burrow wrote the latest and greatest installment of his football career and rise to being the “Joe Cool” of his generation. Two years after winning the Heisman Trophy and leading LSU to a national championship, Burrow continued the Cincinnati Bengals‘ Cinderella run through the playoffs by knocking off the Kansas City Chiefs and giving his team the right to play in Super Bowl LVI with a 27-24 victory in overtime.

If anything, Burrow’s aura in the leadup to the game suggested that such an upset was possible. Upon his arrival in Kansas City, Burrow was spotted wearing a large grey jacket and a personalized “JB9” chain featuring his initials and his number nine. Burrow’s attire made the rounds on social media prior to the AFC Championship Game, and sure enough became part of the conversation afterwards.

In Burrow’s post-game press conference, a reporter asked the Bengals quarterback if the diamonds on his chain were real, to which he offered a sharp answer in regards to how and why they would be authentic.

“They’re definitely real. I think I make too much money to have fake ones,” Burrow laughed. “So these are real.”

Burrow went on to explain that there was no particular significance to his choice of pendant, just that he thought it was cool. Burrow felt his overall outfit was his favorite of the year, and stated he hasn’t yet thought about his choice of attire for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles.

As quickly as the legend of Joe Burrow has grown off the field, it’s also soaring to new heights on the field. Under the direction of Burrow, the 2021 Bengals are just the third team in NFL history to go to the Super Bowl two years after finishing with the worst record in the NFL, joining the 1981 San Francisco 49ers and the 2003 Carolina Panthers. The Bengals will be in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988, when they lost to the 49ers for the second time in the decade.

Bengals AFC Champions gear now available

The Bengals are going to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989. Celebrate the historic win by picking up official Bengals AFC Champions gear. Shop shirts, hoodies, hats and more here.

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