Joe Burrow's Cigar Story: From LSU to the NFL
There are quarterbacks who lead with grit. Some with swagger. And then there’s Joe Burrow, who shows up with all of that, and a cigar between his teeth.
Whether it's after a national championship or a division clinching win, Burrow has made the victory cigar part of the uniform. What started as a one off viral photo has turned into something bigger. Something expected. Fans now wait for that signature Joe Burrow cigar pic like it’s part of the postgame show.
In this edition of our series covering famous cigar smokers, including legends like Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, let’s dive into the making of this tradition.
Joe Burrow’s First Cigar
You’d think he was born holding a cigar with the way he carries it, but Joe Burrow’s first cigar came at a pretty major moment. It was 2019. LSU had just stomped Clemson to win the national championship. While the locker room went wild, Burrow leaned back in full gear, calmly puffing away like a man who had been doing this his whole life.
That photo? Instantly iconic. One of the most shared Joe Burrow cigar photos to date. But the story behind the smoke makes it even better.
The cigars came courtesy of KJ Malone, an intern on LSU’s strength staff and son of NBA legend Karl Malone, who has his own line of cigars made by La Aurora in the Dominican Republic. KJ brought 150 cigars stuffed in plastic bags, but forgot one small detail, no cutters and no lighters.
So Burrow did what any cool headed Heisman winner would do. He bit the end off and borrowed a lighter from Superdome staff. Problem solved.
Oh, and the Superdome? It’s a non smoking facility. But that didn’t stop Joe or the rest of the team. When police showed up to let them know they were technically breaking the rules, some players put their cigars out. Burrow kept right on puffing.
The Birth of a Tradition
That unscripted moment sparked something bigger. The Joe Burrow smoking cigar photo became less of a novelty and more of a ritual. After each major win, fans began scanning the locker room footage for the next smoke filled snapshot.
Once he joined the Cincinnati Bengals, Burrow brought the tradition with him. As wins started piling up, so did the cigars. This time, though, he had help. Running back Joe Mixon introduced him to the Drew Estate Tabak Especial, a smooth, coffee infused Nicaraguan cigar. That started what you could call Burrow’s flavor era. The man now has range.
Iconic Burrow Cigar Celebrations in the NFL
One standout moment came after the Bengals knocked off the Ravens 27 to 16 to clinch the AFC North. Burrow strolled through the locker room wearing Cartier sunglasses and a shirt that read Conquered The North, puffing what looked like a Cohiba Edición Limitada. The exact cigar remains a mystery. Burrow wouldn’t say. But the image? Viral, of course.
It’s become a pattern. After every big win, the next Joe Burrow cigar photo isn’t just expected, it’s part of the celebration. Often, he’s handing cigars out to teammates first, then lighting one for himself. It’s not just about swagger. It’s leadership with a touch of smoke.
One more notable cigar? The La Flor Dominicana Mysterio, which Burrow lit after another AFC North win. It sold out in Cincinnati shops not long after.
A Family Photo and a Hint of Destiny
Turns out, Joe Burrow with a cigar goes back further than LSU. His father, Jimmy Burrow, has spoken of a never before seen photo of a 7 year old Joe standing proudly with a basketball under one foot and an unlit cigar in his hand. The picture was a recreation of one from Jimmy’s own childhood, where he posed for the local paper, cigar lit.
Was it destiny? A coincidence? Either way, the image only adds to the growing legend of Joe Cool. The photo’s never been published, but you can bet it would go viral in about five seconds.
The Fan Response
As Burrow’s legend grows, so does the cigar frenzy. Fans have sent cigars to his family. A Louisiana based distributor has offered to create a Joe Burrow cigar line. And Karl Malone? He promised to send five boxes of his cigars to the Bengals if they took home the Super Bowl trophy.
Jimmy Burrow reportedly keeps a jar of gifted cigars in the basement. One fan even contacted LSU’s athletic department trying to find a way to send cigars directly to the family.
Safe to say the cigar is no longer just a celebration. It’s a trademark.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Smoke
Type Joe Burrow cigar into your search bar and you’ll find photos, clips, and memes from both college and the NFL. What started as a one time smoke has become a full blown tradition. Burrow doesn’t light up to look cool. He lights up to mark a job well done.
From LSU dominance to Bengals playoff pushes, his postgame puff has become a ritual. Cool, calm, and always with a cigar in hand.
Thinking about starting your own version of the tradition? Start with something good. Get yourself a proper cigar, cut it clean, and keep it fresh in a premium humidor. You don’t need a Heisman to celebrate like a champ, but it definitely wouldn’t hurt.
