Sitting at 4-9Â and likely out of the NFL postseason yet again, the Cincinnati Bengals are slowly losing the faith of their starting quarterback.
Joe Burrow is now in his sixth NFL season and has made the playoffs just two times in that span. When they did reach the postseason, the 6’4″ gunslinger led Cincinnati to an AFC Championship and Super Bowl appearances, respectively. Now, with 2025 looking to be another year of disappointment, Burrow is not shy in voicing his displeasure.
Joe Burrow’s Disturbing Message Leads To Trade Rumors
During a press conference on Wednesday, the Bengals’ franchise cornerstone made some claims that could be troubling to Cincinnati faithful.
“If I want to keep doing this, then what am I trying to do with myself?” Burrow said. “And I have to have fun doing it. You know, if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? So, that’s the mindset.”
With Burrow’s lack of fun amid Cincinnati’s poor season, the NFL media has officially begun spinning the rumor mill. With the iceberg just now starting to tip, what does this mean for the 29-year-old star? Could Burrow retire? Will Cincinnati trade its former No. 1 overall draft pick?
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky discussed the debacle on ESPN’s “Unsportsmanlike” radio show.
.@dorlovsky says there are three teams that should be brainstorming today about how to get Joe Burrow: the Jets, Raiders, and Steelers. pic.twitter.com/Vu4QqDykxm
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) December 11, 2025
With plenty of questions regarding what is next for Burrow, Orlovsky compares this situation to that of another former star NFL QB no longer enjoying the game.
“It would shock me if he [Burrow] retired,” said Orlovsky. “Obviously there’s a lot of similarities here to Andrew Luck.”
While the longtime Detroit Lion struggles to view Burrow retiring, he does picture several teams getting in the mix for the three-time 4,000-yard passer’s services.
“It would shock me if three teams weren’t on the phone today after what he said yesterday, figuring out how we make him part of our football team now, three months from now, six months from now, a year from now.”
Orlovsky continued, “He obviously is in a bad place with that organization; it’s not surprising, but I would be very surprised if he chose not to play football.”
After specifically mentioning three teams potentially being in on Burrow, Orlovsky goes on to name each NFL club.
“Jets, Raiders, Steelers, those would be the three that if I were those three organizations, I’m in a brainstorm meeting now we are figuring out a way to propose a way to get Joe Burrow,” said Orlovsky. “I don’t necessarily care what it takes.”
Despite a pitiful record, an atrocious defense, and playing four games this season, the Bengals’ man at the helm ranks 15th in the NFL using PFSN’s QB Impact metric.
It will be an interesting offseason with Burrow and the Bengals. However, an incredibly slim chance remains they could squeak into the postseason, 2.6% according to PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter. With all the cards stacked against him, can the 2019 Heisman Trophy Winner rally the troops?
