The Los Angeles Rams are rolling through the 2025 season like a team on a mission. Sitting atop the NFC with the No. 1 seed, they’ve got the look of a squad that’s not just playoff-bound, but primed for another deep run.
Matthew Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career-35 touchdowns to just four picks through 14 weeks-and he’s rightfully leading the MVP conversation. It’s been a masterclass in veteran quarterbacking, the kind of season that reminds you why the Rams went all-in on him in the first place.
But while the Rams are focused on chasing their second Lombardi Trophy in four years, some interesting noise is coming out of Cincinnati-noise that could have long-term implications for teams thinking about life after their current franchise QB.
On Wednesday, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow spoke to the media and offered up a candid reflection that’s sparked plenty of conversation around the league.
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this,” Burrow said. “I have been through a lot.
If it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? That is the mindset I am trying to bring to the table.”
Now, on the surface, it’s a thoughtful, introspective comment from a player who’s battled through more than his share of adversity. But when a franchise quarterback starts talking about needing to “have fun” in order to keep going, it naturally raises eyebrows-especially given Burrow’s injury history and how much wear and tear he’s already endured in his young career.
Burrow’s comments echo the kind of sentiment we heard from Andrew Luck back in 2019, just before he made the stunning decision to walk away from football. And while there’s no indication that Burrow is headed down the same road, it’s a reminder of how physically and mentally taxing this game can be-even for the best of the best.
It doesn’t help that the Bengals’ 2025 season has been a frustrating one. Burrow came into the year fresh off a 43-touchdown campaign in 2024, but Cincinnati missed the postseason despite his heroics.
Then came the turf toe injury in Week 2 this season, and everything unraveled. The Bengals are sitting at 4-9, clinging to the faintest thread of playoff hope.
Without Burrow, the offense sputtered. The defense couldn’t carry the load.
And questions about the team’s long-term direction have started to bubble up.
It’s fair to wonder how much patience Burrow has left. He’s a competitor, and he’s proven he can elevate a team to the Super Bowl when the pieces are around him. But if he’s starting to question the fun factor-or the organization’s ability to build a consistent winner-then the situation in Cincinnati could get complicated fast.
That brings us back to the Rams.
Stafford is still playing elite football, but he turns 38 in February. He reportedly mulled retirement last offseason, and even though he’s silenced any doubters with his performance this year, the clock is ticking. The Rams have shown they’re not afraid to make bold moves to stay in contention, and if a quarterback like Burrow were to become available, it’s hard not to imagine them picking up the phone.
A potential move like that wouldn’t come cheap-think multiple first-round picks and then some-but it could extend the Rams’ championship window for another five years. Going from Stafford to Burrow would be one of the rarest transitions in sports: a seamless handoff from one elite quarterback to another, without hitting the reset button.
For now, the Rams are locked in on the present. They’ve got a real shot at hoisting another Lombardi, and Stafford is playing like a man determined to finish what he started.
But in the background, the league is watching Cincinnati-and Joe Burrow’s words-with keen interest. Because if there’s even a hint that he’s thinking about a change, the ripple effects could reshape the NFL’s quarterback landscape in a hurry.