Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow Challenges Ted Karras To Get His First Tattoo With 5-Figure Donation

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras knew when he offered free tattoos as a reward for the fans making him the Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity Challenge that a few people taking him on the offer would be getting inked for the first time in their life.

But he never expected to be one of them.

Things changed Thursday night when several current Cincinnati players were out with newly signed free agents Geno Stone, Zack Moss, and Mike Gesicki when quarterback Joe Burrow challenged Karras to get his first tattoo.

Bengals Center Ted Karras Gets First Tattoo After Donation From Joe Burrow

Burrow pledged a donation of $25,000 to the Village of Merici, an Indianapolis-based living community and service provider for adults with disabilities, if Karras would do it.

And Karras, an Indianapolis native who has worked with the Village of Merici for years, couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

At 5 p.m. on Sunday, after 45 local tattoo artists had inked nearly 500 Bengals fans, Karras got his first tattoo.

“This is what happened,” Karras said shortly before having the “Cincy” logo tattooed on his upper right leg. “We’re at free agency dinner on Thursday night. I wasn’t gonna get it. My wife’s been opposed. I’ve caught a spanking for this.

“But Joey B. kind of challenged me and said, ‘If you get it, I’ll donate $25,000 to the Village of Merici,'” Karras continued. “How can I turn him down if Joey B. wants to get involved with the Village?”

Ted said Burrow challenged him at the free agent dinner Thursday night to get a tattoo. Ted joked he had to smooth things over with his wife. He’ll wrap today’s event at 5 with his first ever tattoo. pic.twitter.com/0hIC4NlQfk

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) March 17, 2024

Burrow was not present at Sunday’s event at the Fowling Warehouse, but other teammates were, including defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who signed autographs for nearly two hours.

Head coach Zac Taylor also came out to support Karras, as did Taylor’s chief of coaching staff Doug Rosfeld, who joined Karras in getting a “Cincy” logo tattoo.

“He (Burrow) is a man of his word, and so am I, so I’m getting this tattoo,” Karras said. “I’m a little nervous. I see people coming up, and they’ve got the patch on, and it’s a little bit bloody, and I’m like ‘Oh, man.'”

The Cincy Hat project began in Nov. 2022, and since then there have been several different styles and colors offered for $35 each, with the proceeds going to the Village of Merici.

In January, Karras announced a joint venture with former Bengals quarterback and Ring of Honor member Ken Anderson to bring a similar living community to Cincinnati.

All shapes and sizes getting tattoos today. pic.twitter.com/IGWkgICygW

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) March 17, 2024

In addition to offering free tattoos, Sunday’s event served as a fundraiser for the project with all varieties of hats on sale — green was the most popular color on the holiday Karras renamed “St. Tatt-rick’s Day” — along with silent auction items.

Many who received the free tattoos made donations to the Village of Merici while also tipping their tattoo artists, who were paid a flat fee of $500 for the day and given two tickets to a Bengals game.

“This whole thing was a thank you to Cincy for the amazing support over the last two seasons,” Karras said. “The response that we’ve gotten online and in person to propel us to win the Charity Challenge obviously spurred this on. And I wanted people to know how thankful we are for that.

“This has been an unbelievable ride,” he continued. “With hats (sales), we’ve been able to house 75 more adults with Down Syndrome and autism. This is a coming out part of me and Ken Anderson teaming up to bring a facility here to Cincinnati. There’s no infrastructure currently within Ohio and Cincinnati that’s dedicated to adults with Down Syndrome and autism, so we’re gonna be at the forefront of it.”

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