Joe Burrow Enjoys Being Everyone's Man Crush Monday: 'It Makes You Feel Good'

It's no secret that Joe Burrow is one of the NFL's most beloved names (and faces).

In a new interview, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback opened up about how he's seen the public's perception of him change over the years. Joe Burrow also reflected on all of the love and admiration he receives from fans all over, adding, "It definitely doesn't make me feel bad."

While chatting with PEOPLE, Burrow admitted the conversation around his looks has been "interesting" to hear, especially considering he hasn't always felt the most confident about them himself.

"It's been interesting to see how the perception of me has changed over the years," said Burrow. "I never really felt that way about myself, and I wouldn't say when I was younger, other people felt that way about me either."

Burrow, who is undoubtedly one of the league's most handsome faces, admitted he doesn't focus much on the headlines about his looks. However, when he sees them, he does feel a sense of gratitude.

"I just find it interesting how the change has happened over the last couple years. It makes you feel good," he said. "It definitely doesn't make me feel bad. So I don't pay attention too much to it, but sometimes it's nice."

In December 2024, after Burrow's house was robbed during the Bengals' matchup versus the Dallas Cowboys, a source told PEOPLE the quarterback had been secretly hanging out with influencer and model Olivia Ponton, who has over 10 million followers across Instagram and TikTok.

There had been chatter about their potential relationship prior to the December incident. However, things seemed to be confirmed when news broke that Ponton was inside Burrow's home at the time of the robbery.

Her mother alerted the authorities, according to police records.

A source close to Burrow and Ponton said the pair had been "hooking up" since the fall and were keeping things casual.

Once the public discovered Ponton was at Burrow's house, the athlete was hit with a wave of attention and probed with many questions about his dating life. Days later, he admitted he wasn't interested in sharing more than what the media had already reported.

"I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one, and way more is already out there than I would want out there, and that I care to share, so that's all I got to say about that," he said.

Another reason Burrow has received much attention over the last few years is his heightened visibility, thanks to his sponsorships and extracurricular activities.

In July 2024, the QB made even more waves after he was seen walking in a Vogue fashion show.

Burrow, 27, walked the stage in a black Peter Do suit with black lapels and a cutout that showed his bare back.

When he appeared on an episode of the "Pardon My Take" podcast, the Southeast Ohio native revealed he'd been "roasted" by his friends for his get-up.

"I've been roasted in just about every group chat I could possibly be roasted in," he said.

According to Burrow, the look was unplanned; however, when the team presented him with the idea, he was more than willing to rock it.

Even then, he said he was "fully prepared for all of the criticism and roasting I knew was coming my way."

One friend who likely didn't share negative feelings about Burrow's look is his Bengals teammate, Ja'Marr Chase.

Before playing together in Cincinnati, the two played at LSU and won a national championship together in 2020.

Chase, 24, told Us Weekly that after speaking with Burrow more about fashion, the baller's mindset around his look has changed.

“I’m starting to get him into more fashion stuff lately,” said Chase. “Last year was the first year where I started to buy stuff for him and he would consider to wear it."

He continued, "We’ve started talking more about shoes and other brands. He’s starting to like it more.”

According to Chase, he plans to get Burrow "out [of] his comfort zone."

“He’s still breaking barriers, trying to be himself and show off more of his personality and stuff,” Chase said. “I try to help him with that, try to get him to open up more. You know, he’s always been the quiet guy. He knows when to talk, but I just want him to talk more often.”