Joe Burrow isn't an easy guy to rattle. We’ve seen him sit in the pocket while 300-pound defensive linemen bearing down on him, and he doesn't even blink. He’s the personification of "cool." But during a 2023 visit from Oz Pearlman, the man known as "Oz the Mentalist," the Bengals' franchise quarterback looked legitimately unsettled. It wasn't because of a complex defensive scheme or a missed block.
It was because a guy with a whiteboard knew exactly what Burrow was thinking before he even thought it.
The video went viral for a reason. In the middle of the Bengals' locker room, surrounded by teammates like Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd, Burrow became the centerpiece of a demonstration that many fans still swear involves some kind of "dark magic." But if you look closer at the Oz Pearlman Joe Burrow encounter, you see more than just a magic trick. You see a masterclass in psychological suggestion and high-level mentalism.
What Actually Happened in the Bengals Locker Room?
Oz Pearlman has a thing for NFL teams. He’s hit the Jets, the Bills, and the Eagles, but the Cincinnati stop felt different. He walked into a room full of hyper-competitive, naturally skeptical athletes and basically took over their brains.
The highlight of the session involved Burrow throwing a football to his teammates. It sounds simple. Oz told Burrow to pick anyone standing in the room—receivers, tight ends, whoever—and throw them the ball. Before Joe moved a muscle, Oz wrote a name on a whiteboard.
Burrow throws to Trenton Irwin. Oz flips the board. It says "Trenton Irwin."
💡 You might also like: Chase Center: What Most People Get Wrong About the New Arena in San Francisco
The room starts getting loud. People are laughing, but they’re also doing that nervous "how did he do that" shuffle. Oz does it again. This time, he predicts a throw to Andrei Iosivas. Correct again. At this point, you can see Burrow's brain trying to compute. He’s a guy who lives on logic and film study. This doesn't fit the script.
The "Fake Out" That Failed
The moment that really broke the internet was the third throw. Burrow, clearly trying to outsmart the mentalist, decides he’s going to "fake" the throw. He goes through a full passing motion toward superstar wideout Ja’Marr Chase, stops mid-air, and then zips the ball to tight end Tanner Hudson.
It was a classic Burrow move. Improvisational. Fast.
Oz Pearlman didn't even flinch. He turned his board around, and it didn't just have a name. It had the play-by-play. It literally said he would fake to Ja'Marr and throw to Tanner. The locker room erupted. Burrow just stood there, shaking his head, looking like he wanted to check Oz for a wire.
Beyond the Football: The Tyler Boyd Kiss
While the passing prediction got the most clicks, the "Sarah" moment was arguably more insane. Oz turned to Tyler Boyd and asked him to think of the name of the girl he had his first kiss with and what grade he was in.
📖 Related: Calendario de la H: Todo lo que debes saber sobre cuando juega honduras 2025 y el camino al Mundial
Instead of Oz guessing, he told Burrow he was going to "transfer" the thought to him. He snapped his fingers and told Joe to say the first name and number that popped into his head.
"Fifth grade," Burrow said. "Sarah."
Boyd's face went pale. He confirmed it was 100% accurate. He later told reporters there was a "zero percent chance" Joe Burrow could have known that. They’re teammates, sure, but they aren't that close. They aren't discussing middle school crushes during two-minute drills.
How Does Oz Pearlman Actually Do It?
If you’re looking for a supernatural explanation, you’re going to be disappointed. Oz doesn't have psychic powers. He’s an endurance athlete (the guy runs 100-mile ultramarathons) and a master of human behavior.
Most experts in the magic community point to a few specific techniques used in the Oz Pearlman Joe Burrow performance:
👉 See also: Caitlin Clark GPA Iowa: The Truth About Her Tippie College Grades
- Pre-Show Work: This is the most likely culprit for the Tyler Boyd trick. Often, mentalists or their assistants will chat with players before the cameras roll, using subtle psychological "fishing" or even physical questionnaires disguised as something else to gather data.
- The Power of Suggestion: When Oz tells Joe to "pick anyone," he might be using verbal cues or positioning to make certain players more likely to be chosen. This is called a "force."
- Reading Micro-Expressions: Quarterbacks are trained to look off safeties, but mentalists are trained to look at the tiny muscle twitches in the eyes and shoulders that happen before the look-off.
- Statistical Probability: In a room of 50 guys, a quarterback has "favorites." Oz knows the depth chart. He knows who Burrow is likely to target in a casual setting.
Interestingly, some skeptics on Reddit and in magic forums have analyzed the footage frame-by-frame. They point to small "cuts" in the edited video that might hide the moments where information was exchanged. But even with a cynical eye, the execution is flawless.
Why NFL Coaches Keep Bringing Him In
You’d think a head coach like Zac Taylor wouldn't want a distraction in the locker room. But Oz is a regular on the NFL circuit. Why? Because it’s a massive "culture" win.
Football is a grind. It’s meetings, film, practice, and more meetings. Bringing in someone like Oz Pearlman breaks the monotony. It forces the players to bond over a shared experience of "What the hell just happened?"
When you see Joe Burrow—the leader of the franchise—being humbled and amazed, it humanizes him to his teammates. It builds chemistry in a way that a standard "trust fall" never could.
Actionable Insights: What You Can Learn from the Oz/Burrow Dynamic
Honestly, you don't need to be a world-class mentalist to use some of these "powers" in your own life. Whether you're in business or just trying to be more observant, there are real takeaways here.
- Focus on Body Language: Most of us listen to words, but we ignore the "tells." Like Oz watching Burrow’s shoulders, start noticing how people's feet point where they actually want to go, or how their eyes move when they’re genuinely surprised versus faking it.
- The Power of Confidence: Half of Oz’s "magic" is just the fact that he acts like he’s already won. If you speak with total conviction, people are much more likely to follow your lead or believe your "prediction."
- Do Your Homework: The "Sarah" trick worked because Oz (presumably) did the legwork before the cameras were on. Success in almost any field usually comes down to the preparation no one sees.
If you ever find yourself in a room with Oz Pearlman, just remember: keep your PIN code to yourself and maybe don't think about your first crush too hard. Even Joe Burrow couldn't keep a secret from him, and that guy is used to beating the best defenses in the world.