Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow appears to be in a funk. A week after making comments suggesting he’s no longer having fun playing football, and then turning in one of his worst performances of the season, Burrow was at it again Wednesday.
This time around, Burrow raised eyebrows after admitting he’s envisioned scenarios where he’s no longer playing for the Bengals anymore.
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Burrow expects to remain with the team next season, so Bengals fans don’t have to worry just yet.
But Burrow’s comments prior to Week 15’s loss have led to questions over whether he’s fed up with the franchise. Burrow has experienced a number of injuries over his career, and the Bengals did little to add to the offensive line coming into the 2025 NFL season. Despite entering the season as a Super Bowl contender, the team’s hopes were dashed when Burrow went down with a foot injury in Week 2, something fans worried could happen again after the team’s underwhelming offseason.
Burrow returned in Week 13, but it may have already been too late. The Bengals essentially needed to win out to have a shot at the postseason and, even then, the team likely would have needed help to secure a spot in the playoffs.
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That didn’t happen. After beating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13, the Bengals lost a tough one to the Buffalo Bills in Week 14 due to two late Burrow interceptions. Following the game, Burrow expressed that he’s got to find a way to make football fun again.
Any scenario in which Burrow is playing for another team next season would likely only come about if Burrow demanded a trade. The 29-year-old signed a five-year, $275 million extension in 2023 that will keep him with the team through the 2029 NFL season. While Burrow seemed to indicate that won’t happen, there is precedent for a Bengals quarterback to force a trade after signing an extension. That’s exactly what led to Carson Palmer’s exit from the franchise in 2011.
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Palmer demanded a trade and — after the team did not grant it — retired instead of playing another game with the Bengals. He was eventually traded to the Raiders during the 2011 season.
It doesn’t sound like that’s on tap for Burrow and the Bengals … for now, at least.
While Burrow’s comments about thinking about other scenarios will draw attention, it’s important to note that could mean a lot of different things. Even if Burrow has thought about playing for another team in the future, it doesn’t mean he’s frustrated right now. It just means that he’s considered many different possibilities for the way his career will go.
Still, it’s not exactly encouraging for Bengals fans to hear their franchise quarterback waver when asked about his long-term outlook with the team, especially after last week’s comments.
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Though the Bengals are out of the playoffs, Burrow intends to keep playing down the stretch. With little else left to play for, here’s hoping Burrow finds some joy during the final three weeks of the regular season. The NFL is far more entertaining when he’s slinging touchdowns in meaningful games.
