Joe Burrow isn’t one to stir the pot without reason, but his recent comments have certainly raised a few eyebrows in Cincinnati. When asked this week whether he envisions himself playing for another team down the road, the Bengals’ franchise quarterback didn’t exactly slam the door shut.
“I don’t see myself going anywhere in 2026,” Burrow said. “But a lot of crazy things happen every year.”
That last part - “crazy things happen” - is the kind of phrase that sticks. Especially when it comes from a player who’s not just the face of the franchise, but one of the league’s most composed and calculated voices. Burrow wasn’t hinting at a departure, but he wasn’t pretending the NFL is a predictable place either.
To drive his point home, Burrow referenced one of the most shocking moves of the 2025 season: Micah Parsons being traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers.
“Micah Parsons got traded right before the season,” Burrow said. “That is something I haven’t seen in a long time in the NFL, so crazy things can happen.”
He’s not wrong. Parsons, a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense for four seasons, seemed like the kind of player you build around - not ship out.
But after a long, drawn-out extension saga, Dallas ultimately dealt the All-Pro edge rusher to Green Bay. And while the move shook up the league, it didn’t pan out for Parsons in year one with the Packers.
His season came to a sudden halt after an ACL tear in Week 14 against the Broncos.
Burrow’s point? No matter how stable things may seem - whether you’re a star quarterback or a generational pass rusher - the NFL has a way of flipping the script fast.
Still, it’s worth noting that Burrow didn’t sound like a player eyeing the exit ramp. He’s been the heart of the Bengals since going No. 1 overall in 2020, and despite a frustrating 2025 campaign, there’s no indication he’s looking to jump ship. But in a league where trades, injuries, and unexpected turns are part of the weekly rhythm, even franchise QBs know better than to speak in absolutes.
As for the immediate future, Burrow and the Bengals (4-10) head to Miami this Sunday to take on the Dolphins (6-8) in Week 16. The playoffs are officially out of reach for Cincinnati, but that doesn’t mean the fire’s gone. After back-to-back losses, the Bengals will be looking to close the season with some pride - and maybe a little momentum heading into 2026.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are making a quarterback switch of their own. Rookie Quinn Ewers is set to start after Tua Tagovailoa’s struggles finally pushed Miami to make a change. It’s a bold move this late in the year, but with the Dolphins still technically alive in the playoff hunt, they’re hoping Ewers can provide a late-season spark.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium. The stakes might not be postseason-bound, but for both teams - and especially for a quarterback like Burrow who’s always playing the long game - there’s still plenty on the line.