Cincy Jungle
When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Cincinnati Bengals’ franchise quarterback got fans, media and the entire NFL world talking. The normally reserved Burrow seemed more somber and vulnerable in his media availability than at any other point in his career.
As is common in the 2025 world with the internet, portions of Burrow’s press conference circulated and made fans and media members wonder if Burrow was starting to grow frustrated with the Bengals organization or with the game of football as a whole.
The NFL world reacted to those comments, and according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, other teams in the NFL took notice.
“Other teams in the league took notice of that,” Schefter stated. “I can tell you that for a fact. I know that. Because I was texting with some of them. Andrew Luck, when he retired, had played 86 NFL games and had been sacked 174 times. Joe Burrow has played 13 fewer games and been sacked 203 times.”
Schefter continued to call the comments “alarming” as he was dissecting what Burrow said, fueling speculation that Burrow could soon ask out of Cincinnati.
While it is easy to overreact, Burrow is a competitor who is likely tired of losing. After working back from a Grade 3 turf toe injury and admitting that the playoffs aren’t likely, Burrow is likely just frustrated with the reality of a third straight season without a playoff berth.
Others compared Burrow’s comments to the situation that happened with former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck abruptly retired, arguably at the peak of his career, after his tenure with the Colts led to him taking an obscene amount of hits. Given Burrow’s injury history, it isn’t hard to draw that comparison.
The 2026 offseason could have long-term ramifications on the future of the team and keeping their franchise quarterback engaged and ready to compete.
