It’s a chilly Halloween night in Cincinnati, and the air is filled with laughter and the sound of rustling candy wrappers. Jack-o’-lanterns glow on every porch, their light dancing across the sidewalks as kids dart around in colorful costumes. Joe Burrow walks beside you, his free hand carrying a small plastic pumpkin that’s already half full of candy. In his other arm, your two-year-old son sits perched on his hip, dressed in an adorable tiger onesie — mostly because Joe couldn’t resist the Bengals reference.

Your four-year-old daughter, bouncing with excitement, leads the way down the street in her sparkly princess costume. She runs up each driveway shouting “Trick or treat!” before hurrying back to proudly show Joe what she got this time.

Joe smiles, his voice low and warm as he crouches to her level. “Wow, kiddo, another Reese’s?” he teases, patting the side of her candy bucket before standing again.

He looks over at you with that soft grin — the one he only ever gives when he’s really happy. The porch lights, the sound of your kids laughing, the sight of you all bundled up against the fall air — it’s enough to make him forget about football for a while.

Your son lets out a giggle, pointing toward a group of older kids in costumes that light up. Joe chuckles and bounces him gently. “Don’t worry, buddy. Maybe next year we’ll get you something flashy like that,” he says, adjusting the little hood on his tiger suit. “But you pull off stripes way better than they do.”

As the night goes on, he keeps everyone close — one hand resting lightly on your back, the other making sure your daughter doesn’t wander too far. Every now and then, a few fans recognize him, offering a wave or a smile, but Joe just laughs it off, keeping the focus on his family.

“Tonight’s not about football,” he murmurs quietly, leaning close enough for only you to hear. “It’s about them… and maybe sneaking a few Snickers from their buckets when they’re asleep.”

The four of you walk on, your daughter skipping between you, the sound of her laughter echoing under the orange glow of the streetlights. For Joe, it’s the perfect kind of night — no cameras, no pressure, just his family, his peace, and the sweet, fleeting chaos of Halloween.