Joe Burrow has been one of the most electrifying players in the NFL since he was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. While Burrow has shown how talented he is as a quarterback, much of his time in the NFL has been clouded in questions about his health and the supporting cast around him on the Bengals roster.
This murkiness has raised questions about Burrow’s long-term future with the Bengals’ organization.
Why Bengals Superfan Nick Lachey Doubts Joe Burrow Will Stay With the Bengals
“Unless something changes in a big way, I don’t think there’s a strong chance,” said Bengals superfan Nick Lachey on “Fitz and Whit,” when asked about the chances of Burrow playing for the Bengals in three years.
“The guy wants to win, and if he doesn’t think it can happen there, then at some point he’s going to get frustrated enough to the point of having to kind of throw down an ultimatum . . . I think that’s the sad thing.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick: “What are the chances in your mind that in 3 years Joe Burrow is playing for the Bengals?”
Nick Lachey: “Unless something changes in a big way, I don’t think there’s a strong chance.”
Why Nick Lachey has doubts about Joe Burrow wanting to stay with the Bengals… pic.twitter.com/z601unLb0K
— Fitz & Whit (@fitzandwhit) February 16, 2026
This speculation is not uncommon, as many have discussed the possibility of Burrow being moved. These rumors continued to grow after he made comments to the media in December about his future.
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it,” Burrow said in December. “I have been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?”
In limited action in 2025, Burrow ranked as the No. 10 quarterback in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metrics (QBi), completing 66.8% of his passes for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. With the Bengals, the three-time Pro Bowler will turn 30 in December and has made the postseason only twice in six seasons.
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The Bengals have fielded some explosive offenses with Burrow at the helm and several talented playmakers alongside him. However, the roster’s construction has led to significant criticism of the organization.
The offensive line and defensive play have both been areas of weakness for the team over the past few seasons, and the team didn’t appear to be getting any closer to solving those issues in 2026.
The Bengals’ defense ranked No. 28 in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metrics (DEFi), allowing the most rushing yards per game (147.1), the second-most total yards per game (380.9), and the third-most points per game (28.9).
Meanwhile, the offensive line did improve a bit, but the style of play shifted drastically with Joe Flacco under center, shifting the focus to quick passes to keep Flacco upright. The Bengals have the seventh most cap space in the NFL ($52,745,496) and the number 10 pick in the draft.
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With Burrow surrounded by Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown at the skill positions, the Bengals are expected to target help on defense and the offensive line to attempt to build the roster back into a contender for a run at a Super Bowl with Burrow at the helm.
Burrow’s long-term future in the Bengals remains unclear, but for now, he’s the team’s quarterback. As long as he’s under center, the Bengals figure to be a popular postseason pick, thanks to the upside of their offense and the ceiling they have shown they are capable of. The Bengals will look to return to the postseason in 2026 and keep Burrow around for the long term.
