Joe Burrow: Not Yet Among the Elite Quarterbacks

ESPN has a new take machine — and his name is Chris Canty. This week, he faced an insane Jalen Hurts flip-flop and again found himself in hot water over Joe Burrow. The former NFL defensive lineman has recently been acknowledged as Awful Announcing’s ‘Sports Radio Personality of the Year,’ but his takes have certainly stirred the pot in the past.

Earlier this year, Dan Orlovsky criticized Canty for his “ludicrous” viewpoints on Burrow, especially when the Cincinnati Bengals started the season 0-3. Canty was vocal about not wanting to hear excuses for Burrow’s performance, calling a strong showing in a 38-33 loss “not enough.” In Canty’s assessment, Burrow isn’t just falling short; he’s also becoming a subject of overrated discussions. Canty suggested that Burrow is “not an elite quarterback,” asserting this point like it was an accepted fact.

“We have to get out of this thing where we want to anoint everybody an elite quarterback,” he stated on Friday’s First Take. “I’m just saying, we can’t give the runner-up to the runner-up to the runner-up ‘elite quarterback status.’ There are only three spots on the medal stand. When discussing the podium, we have a gold medal slot, a silver medal slot, and a bronze medal slot. The fourth-place guy doesn’t get an acknowledgment, which is where I see Joe Burrow.” He further emphasized that comparing Burrow to top quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen shows that these players have outperformed him and solidified their elite status.

“[Joe Burrow] is not an elite quarterback.” —@ChrisCanty99 😳 pic.twitter.com/EnXJNiyPwK

— First Take (@FirstTake) January 31, 2025

Awful Announcing’s Ben Axelrod expressed that overall, Canty’s willingness to boldly speak up has made him a vital part of ESPN’s programming landscape. He regularly goes viral on his radio show, Unsportsmanlike, by addressing various topics—like criticizing Kyle Filipowski, blaming Joe Burrow for the Bengals’ fortunes, calling for the Dallas Cowboys to tank, and even engaging in on-air confrontations with Stephen A. Smith. Canty is unafraid to tackle any subject that could qualify as “the thing” in sports discussions.

“When it comes to acknowledging the level of player you are, we have a few measurements in the league: Super Bowl rings, MVPs, and All-Pros,” Canty continued. “Joe Burrow hasn’t got any of those. His claim to fame is that once, four years ago, he beat Patrick Mahomes in a playoff game before losing the Super Bowl. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t equate to elite status.” This perspective perplexed both Stephen A. Smith and Cam Newton.

Despite leading the NFL last season with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, Burrow has become the topic of Canty’s hot takes. This is who Canty is as he establishes himself at ESPN. While he may lack Burrow’s accomplishments as a player, he’s fully committed to throwing out bold statements and engaging in heated discussions.