The 2025 NFL schedule has officially been released, and quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are looking to make it back into the playoffs after missing it again in 2024. While the schedule came out, one thing in particular remained: Burrow has never played in one of the NFL International Games.
He spent his summers traveling to Europe and has been vocal regarding wanting to play overseas, but has never been given the opportunity to do so. It will be interesting to see if that will come to fruition, but it will be another season that he will be playing in games only in the United States.
Joe Burrow Vents Frustration Over Not Having Any International Games This Season
Burrow has been one of the biggest proponents of the NFL International Games and has been upset regarding the inability to play overseas this season. While meeting with the media, the Bengals quarterback voiced some displeasure with their schedule after having their game in Baltimore in primetime for their fourth straight season as well as not going overseas in 2025.
“Maybe an international game next year, too. I think part of the reason why I wanted to do ‘The Quarterback’ show is because I want it to help grow the game internationally and so to not have a stage like that is disappointing because I feel like I consciously worked hard to try to grow the game internationally over the last 18 months so hopefully sometime in the next 18 months we can get over there.”
Joe Burrow says it’s not ideal the NFL gave them a primetime game in Baltimore for a fourth straight year.
Burrow also wants an international game. He says he’s worked hard to grow the NFL internationally and is disappointed they haven’t had one yet.pic.twitter.com/Y0GjNGai72 https://t.co/4bzp0B3rXt
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 20, 2025
Burrow was able to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award while also finishing fourth in the NFL MVP Award. He was able to go 460 of 652 (70.6%) of his passes for 4,918 yards with 43 passing touchdowns to nine interceptions, as well as 42 rushing attempts for 201 yards (4.8 yards per attempt) and a pair of rushing touchdowns.
Cincinnati has not played an overseas game since the 2019 season, the season before Burrow was drafted first overall by the Bengals. This season, there are seven international games beginning in Week 1 of the season. Below are the games and locations of each international game.
- Sept. 5: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sao Paulo)
- Sept. 28: Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin)
- Oct. 5: Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns (London)
- Oct. 12: Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets (London)
- Oct. 19: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
- Nov. 9: Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts (Berlin)
- Nov. 16: Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins (Madrid)
It will be interesting to see if Burrow gets his wish for the 2026 schedule. However, it will not be this upcoming season.