Essendon forward Matt Guelfi recently shared how he had the opportunity to dine with NFL quarterback Joe Burrow at the renowned Melbourne eatery, Nobu. Burrow was visiting Victoria in January for the Australian Open, and Guelfi took a leap of faith by sending him a direct message on Instagram, not expecting a reply.
To his surprise, Burrow responded while Guelfi was at training. Excited yet anxious, he recounts his thoughts about how to approach the situation while trying to maintain his composure. When Burrow suggested they grab a meal, Guelfi and fellow Essendon teammate Jayden Laverde joined the NFL star for dinner.
Burrow, who recently signed an eye-watering $424 million AUD contract with the Bengals and led them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2021, graciously picked up the bill. Guelfi amusingly noted that as he and Laverde were preparing to pay, Burrow revealed his American Express card, insisting they didn’t need to worry about the cost.
During their dinner conversation, Guelfi found out that Burrow is an avid gamer in his free time. He shared that his small-town lifestyle in Cincinnati limits his outings, to the extent that he needs to book an entire cinema for a private movie experience. This was part of why he enjoyed his time in Melbourne, where he could blend in and not attract much attention—only one person approached him during his visit.
Guelfi, who has played 110 matches for the Bombers, recently participated in his first game of the 2025 season against Richmond, showcasing his ongoing commitment to his career in Aussie rules football. The experience with Burrow was a memorable highlight that Gaelfi is likely to cherish.