Joe Burrow’s Candid Comments Raise Big Questions About His Future - And the Bengals’
Joe Burrow’s journey from a breakout playoff run in 2021 to the current state of the Cincinnati Bengals has been anything but linear. Just a few years removed from leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl in his second season, Burrow now finds himself sidelined by injuries and surrounded by a team that’s unraveling on both sides of the ball.
Cincinnati is 4-9 this season, and Burrow has missed nine games. The defense ranks dead last in points allowed.
Even when the offense manages to put up 34 or more points, the Bengals are still winless. That’s not just a stat - it’s a symptom of a team that’s failing to support its franchise quarterback.
And Burrow knows it.
On Wednesday, the 29-year-old quarterback stepped up to the podium and offered a rare, vulnerable glimpse into his mindset. It wasn’t the usual quarterback-speak.
It was raw. Honest.
And maybe a little alarming for Bengals fans.
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it,” Burrow said. “I’ve been through a lot, and if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?
I’ve been through more than most. It’s certainly not easy on the brain or the body, so I’m just trying to have fun doing it again.
… There’s a lot of things going on right now. Lot of things going on right now.”
That’s not just a quarterback venting after a tough loss. That’s a franchise cornerstone openly questioning whether the game - or at least the way it’s going in Cincinnati - is still worth it.
And when a player of Burrow’s caliber starts talking like that, the league listens.
NFL Insiders Weigh In: What’s Going On in Cincinnati?
On ESPN’s Get Up, NFL insider Adam Schefter didn’t mince words when reacting to Burrow’s comments.
“That’s a contemplative, reflective, thoughtful Joe Burrow, who still is processing where he’s at this season and how he wants to proceed,” Schefter said. “If you're raising that question at the end of the year, then there is a major issue going on in his mind and in that organization.”
Schefter pointed to what many have observed over the past few seasons: the Bengals haven’t done enough to protect or support their star quarterback. The offensive line has been shaky.
The defense has regressed. And while the wide receiver group remains intact, the overall roster construction hasn’t held up its end of the bargain.
“The offensive line has not protected him. The defense has failed him.
The personnel has not been good around him,” Schefter added. “It is within Joe Burrow’s right to say and do whatever he wants.
He will have a huge say in whether he wants to keep playing, whether he wants to keep playing in Cincinnati.”
That last part? That’s where things get interesting.
If Burrow Becomes Available, Teams Will Line Up
Schefter hinted that teams around the league took notice of Burrow’s comments. And why wouldn’t they? A 29-year-old quarterback with a Super Bowl appearance under his belt, elite accuracy, and proven leadership doesn’t hit the market often - if ever.
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky took it a step further.
“It’s the beginning of the end for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. The organization has absolutely failed him,” Orlovsky said.
“If I’m the Jets, if I’m the Raiders, if I’m the Vikings, if I’m the Steelers, I am figuring out a way… How do we get Joe Burrow? How do we start the process of making Joe Burrow our quarterback?
Because he obviously no longer wants to be in Cincinnati.”
That’s a bold claim - and a big assumption - but it underscores just how seismic Burrow’s comments were. If there’s even a hint that he’s open to moving on, teams will be ready to pounce.
Could the Raiders Make a Move?
Let’s be clear: trading for Burrow wouldn’t be cheap. We’re likely talking about at least two first-round picks, maybe a third, and potentially a young player or two. The Bengals would want help on defense and along the offensive line - areas where the Raiders don’t exactly have a surplus.
But if Burrow were to tell the Bengals he wants out, that changes everything. He would likely have leverage in choosing his next destination. And while the Raiders might not be the most obvious fit, they’d have a shot.
Las Vegas has some intriguing pieces on offense - Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, and a group of young receivers with upside. There’s also cap space to spend in the offseason, particularly to shore up the offensive line and defense. And then there’s the wildcard: Tom Brady.
As a minority owner in the Raiders organization, Brady’s influence could be a factor. If he were to reach out to Burrow and sell him on the vision - a fresh start, a chance to be the face of a franchise with history and potential, a team ready to build around him - it might resonate.
Burrow’s Future: A Franchise at a Crossroads
Right now, this is all hypothetical. Burrow hasn’t demanded a trade.
He hasn’t said he’s done with Cincinnati. But he has opened the door to a conversation that wasn’t happening before.
And for the Bengals, that should be a wake-up call.
The clock is ticking. Not just on the season - which is all but lost - but on the relationship between one of the league’s most talented quarterbacks and the team that drafted him.
If Cincinnati wants to keep Burrow, they’ll need to do more than just hope he stays. They’ll need to show him that the organization is serious about winning - and about protecting its most valuable asset.
Because if they don’t, the rest of the league is watching. And waiting.