The Cincinnati Bengals‘ lost 2025 season has been anything but fun for Joe Burrow, which led many to believe that the superstar quarterback’s recent comments were a dig at his current club.
But Burrow denied that vehemently and explained that his comments were directed at himself after the Bengals were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a dreadful 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Burrow has, of course, had a ghastly year where he missed seven games with turf toe, which doomed the Bengals’ promising 2-0 start. Since returning from the injury, the Bengals (4-10) are 1-2, with losses to the Ravens and a five-point defeat against the Buffalo Bills last weekend.
Cincinnati will take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in South Florida.
Joe Burrow: ‘Fun’ Comments Had ‘Nothing To Do With Cincinnati’
Burrow’s comments carry extra weight because he is both the best player on the team and the face of the franchise.
So when Burrow spoke about focusing on having fun, and how he was not having it while playing, the comments got twisted about his interest in remaining in Cincinnati long term.
But Burrow nipped that in the bud.
“My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati,” Burrow said after the game, according to ESPN. “My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset and football.”
Burrow just turned 29 and is only completing his sixth NFL season. He was a Pro Bowler just last year, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns — he had a 43-9 touchdown-to-INT rate — while helping Cincinnati go 9-8.
The Bengals’ Window Hinges On Joe Burrow
The Bengals have fallen on hard times since reaching the Super Bowl in 2021-22, despite their 12-4 record and AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022-23. This will be their third straight season outside of the playoffs, and Burrow has missed significant time in two of those campaigns.
So Bengals fans can breathe a sigh of relief that Burrow’s comments — which hinted at retirement or potentially a trade — were focused elsewhere. Of course, Cincinnati needs a healthy Burrow on the field, but the notion of football not being fun hints at retirement — and he’s still a year away from his 30th birthday.
The Bengals are all-in, contrary to their 4-10 record. Burrow is signed through 2029 and would leave more than $91 million in dead cap space if he were released and $56 million if he were traded before June 1.
Yet, of course, Cincinnati did the un-Bengals-like thing by actually investing in its team, and it’s more than just Burrow. Ja’Marr Chase is the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL at more than $40 million, and the Bengals are trying to figure out their next move with Trey Hendrickson, who is about to become a free agent at season’s end.
But if Burrow walks away, the whole window to win is likely to fold like a house of cards, and the Bengals would only have that Super Bowl LVI appearance to show for it. That was supposed to be the opening of Cincinnati’s championship window, and Burrow has proven he can still be one of the best QBs on the planet when healthy.
He just needs to stay healthy.
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