Joe Burrow takes a lot of hits. Like, a terrifying amount. If you’ve watched a single Bengals game over the last few years, you’ve probably seen #9 folded like a lawn chair by a 300-pound defensive tackle at least once. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wince from your couch.
Honestly, it’s a miracle he’s still standing. But he isn't just relying on luck or some "tough guy" mentality he picked up back in Athens, Ohio. There is a serious amount of high-tech engineering happening under that jersey. When people talk about Joe Burrow body armor, they’re usually talking about one of two things: the actual protective gear he wears to prevent his ribs from turning into dust, or his massive endorsement deal with the BodyArmor sports drink company.
Both are vital to his survival in the AFC North.
The Gear: What’s Actually Under the Jersey?
Most fans think NFL players just strap on some plastic pads and call it a day. That might have worked in the 80s, but for a guy with Burrow’s injury history—which includes a torn ACL, a wrecked wrist, and most recently, a brutal Grade 3 turf toe—the "off-the-shelf" stuff doesn't cut it.
Burrow has historically been a creature of habit. For a long time, he stuck with his Douglas shoulder pads and backplate that he’s used since his days at LSU. Quarterbacks love Douglas because they’re low-profile. You need to be able to lift your arm to throw without a giant piece of plastic hitting your helmet.
But the "body armor" part gets specific when you look at rib protection. After dealing with torn rib cartilage in the 2019 National Championship game (where he basically willed LSU to a win while breathing through glass), Burrow started prioritizing core protection. He’s been known to use EvoShield rib guards. These are pretty cool—they start soft, and once you take them out of the foil pack, they harden to the specific shape of your torso. It’s basically a custom-molded shield that disperses the energy of a hit across the whole guard rather than letting a helmet point-load into your floating ribs.
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The 2025-2026 Tech Upgrade
Coming into the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the protection went even further. We aren't just talking about ribs anymore.
- The Carbon Fiber "Armor": After his surgery for turf toe in late 2025, Burrow started wearing a custom carbon fiber plate inside his Nike cleats. Is it "body armor"? Technically, yes. It acts as a rigid floor for his foot, preventing the toe from over-extending while he’s dropping back to pass.
- The Vicis Zero2 Helmet: Burrow made the switch to the Vicis Zero2 Matrix QB, which is basically a shock absorber for your skull. It’s designed specifically for the way quarterbacks hit the ground—usually the back of the head slamming against the turf.
The Brand: The Other Joe Burrow Body Armor
Then there’s the "BodyArmor" that pays the bills. In 2023, Burrow signed a massive multi-year deal to be the face of BodyArmor SuperLyte and the core sports drink line. He isn't just some guy in a commercial; he actually has his own signature bottle.
The "Joe Burrow" flavor is Orange Mango. If you’re a Bengals fan, you’ve probably seen the limited-edition 28oz bottles floating around Cincinnati. He joined a roster that includes Christian McCaffrey and CeeDee Lamb, but Burrow’s role is a bit different. He’s used the partnership to fuel his foundation, which focuses on food insecurity and mental health in Ohio and Louisiana.
It’s a smart play. The drink is basically coconut water-based with a ton of potassium. For a guy who has struggled with calf strains and hydration issues in the heat of early September games, staying hydrated is just as much "protection" as a chest plate.
Why the Protection Strategy Had to Change
Let’s be real: Joe's style of play is dangerous. He holds the ball. He waits for the deep route to develop. He takes the hit to make the play.
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Dr. Timothy Kremchek, a well-known orthopedic surgeon who has followed Burrow’s career, has often pointed out that quarterbacks at this level recover well, but the cumulative "micro-trauma" is what gets you. By 2025, Burrow was already approaching 30. He’s admitted in press conferences that he has "fuzzy recollections" of some games. That’s a scary thing to hear.
The move toward position-specific armor—like the Vicis helmet and the custom rib wraps—isn't about being "soft." It’s about longevity. Look at what happened to Andrew Luck. He got tired of being a "tough guy" through a dozen injuries and walked away. Burrow is trying to avoid that by layering up.
Myths vs. Reality
I’ve heard some wild rumors online. No, Joe Burrow does not wear Kevlar. He’s also not wearing a "bulletproof" vest under his jersey, despite what some Twitter accounts might claim for engagement.
The "armor" he wears is mostly made of:
- D3O Foam: A material that stays soft until it’s hit, then it instantly locks up to absorb energy.
- Carbon Fiber: Used in his cleats and sometimes reinforced in his backplate.
- High-Density Polyethylene: The standard hard plastic in his Douglas pads.
It’s lightweight but incredibly strong. The goal is to keep him under 220 lbs so he stays mobile, but protected enough to survive a blind-side hit from a free rusher.
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How to Protect Yourself Like Joe
If you’re a high school or college QB looking to mimic the Joe Burrow body armor setup, don’t just buy the most expensive thing on the shelf.
First, get a rib shirt. Brands like McDavid or Shock Doctor make "hex-pad" shirts that are a good start, but if you can afford it, go with the EvoShield custom-molded guards. Fitting them is a process—you have to wear them while they harden—but the protection is 10x better than generic foam.
Second, look at your helmet. If your school provides a standard Riddell, that’s fine, but the Vicis tech is really the gold standard for concussion prevention right now. It's expensive, but so is a neurologist.
Finally, don't sleep on the hydration side. You don't need a signature bottle to stay hydrated, but the science behind the BodyArmor drink (electrolytes over sugar) is legit. If you're cramping in the fourth quarter, your pads aren't going to save you from a bad decision caused by fatigue.
Stay protected, play smart, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll last as long as Joey Franchise.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your current pads: If your shoulder pads are more than three years old, the plastic can become brittle. It might be time for an upgrade to a QB-specific model like the Douglas CP Series.
- Invest in a custom rib guard: Don't rely on the "flaps" that come with your shoulder pads. A standalone, custom-molded rib guard is the single best investment for a quarterback.
- Focus on footwear: If you've had foot issues, look into carbon fiber insoles. You don't need custom cleats to get the same support Burrow uses for his turf toe recovery.