It's no secret that the last three seasons haven't been good to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2023, the superstar quarterback suffered an injured wrist that ended his season in Week 11. In 2024, Burrow threw 43 touchdown passes, but the Bengals failed to make the postseason due to their tumultuous defense, causing them to go 9-8. Now in 2025, Burrow missed eight games due to a turf toe injury, and the Bengals now sit at 4-9 with less than slim postseason chances.
That type of stretch would take a mental toll on anyone, and it appears to be taking one on Burrow. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the former No. 1 overall pick discussed the importance of needing to have fun if he wanted to keep playing.
"If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this," Burrow said via Charlie Clifford. "I have been through a lot. If it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? That is the mind set I am trying to bring to the table."
When a reporter noted that Burrow seemed frustrated, he confirmed that thought.
"There are a lot of things going on right now," Burrow said. "A lot of things going on."
This brought concern from many fans worried that Burrow could be contemplating a trade request, or even pulling an Andrew Luck and abruptly retiring. Considering his injury history, combined with the lack of success the Bengals have had in the last three years, it's understandable why that fear would set in.
At age 29, Burrow is still in the prime of his career, and he doesn't want anymore of it to be wasted. It certainly feels like 2026 has the potential to be a franchise-altering offseason, especially if Burrow does make it clear he wants to go elsewhere, or walk away from football entirely.
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