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Joe Burrow became a Louisiana football legend during his two seasons at LSU, but his connection to the state predates his arrival in Baton Rouge. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback recently revealed that Reggie Bush inspired him to become a New Orleans Saints fan growing up.
Burrow recently joined fellow Heisman Trophy winners Jameis Winston and Eddie George for a panel at Fanatics Fest, held at the Javits Center in New York City. His admiration for Bush began long before the two became members of the same exclusive fraternity.
“Reggie was my favorite player when he was playing,” Burrow said. “That’s why I became a Saints fan — because Reggie Bush got drafted to the Saints, and I just loved watching him.”
New Orleans selected Bush at pick No. 2 in the 2006 NFL Draft when Burrow was only nine years old. Bush immediately became one of the faces of a Saints team that reached the NFC championship game during his rookie season.
Bush contributed as a runner, receiver, and returner during five seasons in New Orleans. Eventually, Burrow also created his own legacy in Louisiana more than a decade later. After transferring from Ohio State to LSU, he won the 2019 Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to an undefeated national championship.
Burrow's appreciation for Bush extends beyond what the former Saints running back accomplished in New Orleans. He also strongly criticized the decision that led to Bush forfeiting his 2005 Heisman Trophy.
“Obviously, everybody knows who Reggie is, but they took his dang Heisman away, and all these hypocritical coaches were doing the same thing to everybody else,” Burrow said. “But because Reggie was on top of the world, they were like, ‘We’re going to take this thing away from him.’”
Bush forfeited the award in 2010 before the Heisman Trust reinstated him as the 2005 winner in 2024. However, Burrow still believes the trophy never should have been taken away from the player who inspired his connection to the Saints and Louisiana football.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Joe Burrow reveals Reggie Bush made him a young New Orleans Saints fan
