Joe Burrow’s Uncertain Future Has Chiefs Fans Watching Closely - Especially with Raiders Rumors Swirling
Even though the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals didn’t square off this season, their rivalry still lingers in the minds of fans - and not just because of what happened on the field. What started in the 2021 season with the Bengals stunning the Chiefs twice, including in the AFC Championship Game, quickly turned into one of the NFL’s most charged new matchups. Cincinnati even had the swagger to nickname Arrowhead Stadium “Burrowhead” - a jab that didn’t age well after Kansas City got their revenge and hasn’t lost to the Bengals since.
Since then, the two teams have gone in very different directions. The Chiefs added two more Lombardi trophies to their case, while the Bengals have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years.
A big part of that downturn? Joe Burrow’s health.
Burrow hasn’t been able to stay on the field consistently, and injuries have derailed what once looked like a rocket ride to perennial contention. On Wednesday, the Bengals quarterback held a press conference that raised more eyebrows than expected. He wasn’t talking about the next opponent or rehab timelines - he was talking about fun.
“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, that might just sound like a guy trying to keep perspective after another tough injury. But in today’s NFL, where quarterback movement is more common than ever, it doesn’t take much to get the rumor mill spinning. And spin it did.
Could Burrow Be on the Move?
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky didn’t waste time throwing gas on the fire, suggesting that Burrow’s comments might be a signal of deeper dissatisfaction in Cincinnati. He even floated a few potential landing spots - and one of them should make Chiefs fans sit up straight: the Las Vegas Raiders.
“It would shock me if three teams weren't on the phone today after what he said,” Orlovsky said. “Jets, Raiders, Steelers.
Those would be the three that if I were those three organizations, I'm in a brainstorm meeting now. We are figuring out a way to propose a way to get Joe Burrow, and I don't necessarily care what it takes.”
Let’s not gloss over what that would mean for the AFC West. Burrow in silver and black? That’s not just a storyline - that’s a full-blown headache for Kansas City.
A Nightmare Scenario for the Chiefs
As it stands, the Chiefs don’t have to deal with Burrow every year. They’ve dodged him this season, and with the Bengals outside the playoff picture, there’s no rematch in sight.
But if Burrow were to land in Las Vegas, that luxury would disappear. Suddenly, Patrick Mahomes would have to face a quarterback who’s proven he can beat him - twice - not just in the playoffs, but potentially twice a year.
And let’s not forget the weapons that would surround Burrow in Vegas. He’d have promising young talent like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty at his disposal - a pair of playmakers who could thrive with a quarterback of Burrow’s caliber.
We’ve already seen what he can do with a strong supporting cast in Cincinnati. Give him a fresh start and a healthy season, and he could instantly elevate the Raiders into serious contention.
Would the Bengals Actually Trade Him?
Now, let’s pump the brakes just a bit. It would take an enormous offer to pry Burrow away from Cincinnati - we're talking about a former No. 1 overall pick who led the team to a Super Bowl and has the kind of poise and leadership you just don’t find every year.
But if frustration builds and Burrow starts to push for a change, it’s not unheard of. Just ask Carson Palmer, who forced his way out of Cincinnati under similar circumstances over a decade ago.
Still, the idea of Burrow landing with a division rival like the Raiders, Broncos, or Chargers is enough to make Chiefs Kingdom collectively cringe. The AFC West is already tough enough - adding a quarterback who’s gone toe-to-toe with Mahomes and come out on top? That’s a different level of pressure.
The Best-Case Scenario (For the Chiefs)
If Burrow truly wants a fresh start, the ideal outcome - at least from Kansas City’s perspective - is that he ends up in the NFC. Let him go battle it out with the Eagles, 49ers, or Lions.
Keep him out of the AFC playoff picture and, more importantly, out of the AFC West arms race. Because if he lands in the wrong spot, the Chiefs may find themselves facing a very familiar - and very dangerous - foe far more often than they'd like.
For now, it’s all speculation. But Burrow’s words have opened the door, and in today’s NFL, that’s often all it takes.