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For the third straight season, the Cincinnati Bengals will be on the outside looking in when the NFL playoffs begin.
Joe Burrows’ future with the team has been a topic of conversation as the Bengals come to terms with the reality of another season that doesn’t go as planned. The star quarterback recently made comments that seemingly fueled speculation about his status with the franchise that drafted him six seasons ago.
On Wednesday, Burrow tried to ease concerns about the idea that he may go to another NFL franchise as soon as next season.
“A lot of crazy things happen every year,” the two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year told reporters.
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Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“I don’t see that. No.” Burrow added when asked if he could envision himself in another NFL team’s uniform in 2026. A follow-up question about suiting up for another franchise at some point later in his career elicited a vague response from the star signal caller, “You think about a lot of things.”
Days before the Bengals were shut out in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens , Burrow hinted that enjoying the game was a priority, saying he wanted to “go and have fun [and] play soccer.”
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He later added that he also wants to continue winning games.
“If I’m going to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I’ve been through a lot, and if it’s not fun, what am I doing it for? So that’s the mindset I try to bring to the table.”
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow celebrates after a game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati on Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Burrow eventually clarified these remarks.
“My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati,” he said after the Bengals’ 24-0 loss at Paycor Stadium. “My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset and football.”
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during practice at Paycor Stadium on June 10, 2025. (Kareem Elgazzar/Imagn Images)
Burrow and the Bengals agreed to a long-term contract worth a combined $275 million through 2023. The deal made him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history. The contract also contained a no-trade clause valid through 2029.
The Bengals will try to end a two-game losing streak when they visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Cincinnati is expected to face rookie Quinn Ewers in that contest following Wednesday’s decision by the Dolphins to bench veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
