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CINCINNATI — Bengal quarterback joe burro On Wednesday a question was asked that would have seemed illogical to discuss even a few weeks ago.
Burrow was asked if he ever imagined playing for another franchise. The inquiry comes a week after Burrow said he wanted to have fun if he continued playing football, leading to significant speculation about everything from retirement to finding a new team. Technically, it is a possibility.
“A lot of crazy things happen every year,” Burrow said Wednesday.
But for this to actually happen, several things have to happen in a specific order.
First, either the Bengals or Burrow would like to move on from the other. Cincinnati made its feelings about Burrow clear when he signed a $275 million contract extension through 2023, making him one of the highest-paid players in league history. Even if the Bengals decide Burrow is no longer a franchise cornerstone, Burrow has a no-trade clause in his contract that currently runs through 2029, with options that could extend the deal to 2032.
For his part, Burrow calmed any fears by saying he “can’t see” any world in 2026 in which he’s not with the Bengals, even if Cincinnati (4-10) would miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The universe went silent after Burrow made his comments in a midweek news conference before last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Since then, much of the past week has been spent being asked about his thoughts and feelings, including by people close to him.
“That’s the way it goes,” Burrow said. “Of course, there are some texts that don’t mean much to me after all that.”
The sixth-year quarterback and two-time MVP finalist was a little more cheerful in his midweek press conference before Sunday’s game. miami dolphins (6-8), who are also out of the playoff race.
He reiterated his desire to continue playing this season, despite fans who either want to protect Burrow’s health or want Cincinnati to lose as many games as possible to improve their 2026 draft position.
“It feels like everyone is trying everything they can to keep me from playing football and I feel like I’m fighting that,” Burrow said. “I’m fighting everybody. I just want to play ball. That’s all I want to do.”
That was before he was essentially issued a loyalty pledge to remain loyal to the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2020 after one of the best seasons in college football history.
Burrow acknowledged that loyalty could be fickle. He noted how dallas cowboys Two-time All-Pro edge rusher tackled Micah Parsons till green Bay Packers,
“It’s something I haven’t seen in the NFL in a long time,” Burrow said. “Crazy things can happen.” And even though he missed nine games this season due to a turf toe injury, the two-time Pro Bowler believes some of his best years are still to come. He said Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, aaron rodgers and current teammates Joe Flacco NFL players have all been successful at advanced ages. “I want to be in the conversation with these guys and do everything I need to do to prepare my body for these games and have long-term success,” Burrow said. “So I plan on doing this at a high level for a long time.”
But all of the quarterbacks mentioned played for multiple teams in their careers. Burrow was asked if he would like to play somewhere else one day.
“You think about a lot of things,” Burrow said.
But until that crossed his mind, he and the team prepared for their final road game of the season against the Dolphins, which he hopes will be the next of many.
“I expect to play a long time and I expect to play well and consistently well for a long time,” Burrow said.
