Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach would signal his team was going to win when he lit up a cigar and enjoyed it on the bench at the end of games. This became the signature celebration for the Celtics, as the team won 16 championships under Auerbach’s direction as coach, president, and general manager.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow lighting a cigar in the locker room means the team is celebrating a huge victory late in the season. He started the tradition in college at LSU and carried it to the NFL with the help of another NBA legend.
When Did Joe Burrow’s Celebration Start?
Burrow’s second and final season with LSU was one of the best by a college football quarterback ever. He passed for 5,671 yards with 60 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 games. Burrow had a number of talented teammates, including Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
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After Burrow led LSU to a victory over Clemson in the national championship game to win the 2019 title, he was spotted in the locker room celebrating. Burrow got the cigar from LSU strength and conditioning staff member K.J. Malone, son of Basketball Hall of Famer Karl Malone. It was from Karl Malone’s cigar company, and there were several passed out in the locker room after the game.
Victory cigar. #LSU #Burreaux pic.twitter.com/ssYZSJyWET
— Walking With Tigers (@LSUTigersBook) January 14, 2020
Burrow explained the picture to FOX Sports in 2021: “Mine was about halfway gone when they said it’s time to do media, and I didn’t really want to give it up. So then we went into the little loading area before the press conference, and that’s where that picture was taken. On the couch, right in the little waiting area to go out on stage.”
Dan Burrow, one of Joe’s older brothers, told Sports Illustrated, “It cracks me up that Joe is known for smoking cigars. I’ve never known him to be a cigar guy.”
Making It a Tradition in the NFL
After going 4-11-1 as a rookie, Burrow lit up a cigar to celebrate when the Bengals clinched the AFC North title during the 2021 season. Evan McPherson’s field goal as time expired gave the Bengals a 34-31 win against the Kansas City Chiefs to wrap up the division.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow smoking a cigar and getting the gat after winning the AFC North: pic.twitter.com/NoVYzjIYjG
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) January 2, 2022
Four weeks later, McPherson kicked a game-winning field goal in overtime against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Burrow and his teammates lit up more victory cigars in the locker room as they celebrated making the Super Bowl.
Malone had boxes of cigars shipped to the Super Bowl for the Bengals to celebrate with, but Cincinnati came up short against the Los Angeles Rams.
When the Bengals won the AFC North last season, Burrow passed out victory cigars to his teammates to celebrate the accomplishment. Burrow’s backup, Brandon Allen, told the Cincinnati Enquirer, “That’s who Joe Burrow is. A cigar-smoking winner.”
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