Ja’Marr Chase likes the new ‘Mean Joe’ Burrow

Joe Burrow has always been competitive. Apparently, we haven’t seen anything yet.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has made it clear throughout the offseason that he intends to take a more vocal, and sometimes less forgiving, approach to leadership in 2026. Now, Ja’Marr Chase says he is seeing that version of Burrow firsthand.

And Chase loves it.

Chase was recently asked about the emergence of what has become known as “Mean Joe” Burrow.

“I like it when Joe’s like that,” Chase said. “I like it when he’s pissed. I like the fire that he has. He don’t always bring it out.”

Chase said the difference isn’t difficult to spot.

Burrow talked about changing his leadership style during the offseason, saying he wanted to create a greater sense of urgency throughout the organization. He acknowledged that part of that meant being willing to immediately call out things that weren’t meeting the Bengals’ standard, sometimes a little louder than he had in the past.

“I want to say his demeanor is just more aggressive,” Chase said. “His face is more aggressive; the way he talks is more aggressive. He got like a little mean mug on his face. I kinda like when he’s like that.”

There is an obvious reason for the change. Cincinnati has missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons. The Bengals have had a quarterback capable of playing at an elite level and one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive weapons in Chase, yet those pieces haven’t translated into postseason football recently. That has helped create a different atmosphere around the team heading into 2026.

Burrow seems determined to make sure everyone feels that urgency.

There have already been signs of a more intense training camp. Competition between Cincinnati’s offense and revamped defense has occasionally become heated, including an early-camp practice scuffle. The players involved dismissed any suggestion of lingering hostility and instead pointed to the competitiveness of the practices.

For Chase, apparently, that’s exactly the version of Burrow he wants to see. The chemistry between the two has never been much of a question. Their relationship goes back to LSU, and Chase knows Burrow about as well as anyone in the Bengals locker room.

So, when Chase notices something different about his quarterback, it carries some weight.

The Bengals have spent much of the offseason talking about expectations, urgency, and the need to turn a talented roster into actual results. Burrow appears to have decided that one way he can help make that happen is by demanding more from both himself and everyone around him.

If that means Cincinnati gets a slightly angrier Joe Burrow in 2026, Chase is all for it. And if “Mean Joe” helps get the Bengals back into the postseason, chances are Chase won’t be the only one who likes him.