Joe Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL, but his recent comments suggest that he’s not long for the league. The Cincinnati Bengals QB has had a rough go in terms of injuries, and his team’s success has waned since their 2021 Super Bowl run that fell just short of a title.
He has spoken recently of leaving the Bengals and retiring from football outright, almost mirroring what happened to Andrew Luck.
Joe Burrow Sounds Like He Has Considered Walking Away
Joe Burrow was just asked if he could ever envision playing for another team. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and signed a massive, at the time record-setting NFL extension with the Bengals. But he admitted that “crazy things happen every year.” The Bengals haven’t been able to consistently field a playoff team during Burrow’s tenure.
Ultimately, Burrow said he “can’t see” a world in which he’s not with the Bengals next year, but he’s clearly considering a lot right now. For the second straight year, Burrow will be at home in January while his AFC counterparts, though not Patrick Mahomes and maybe not Lamar Jackson, will vie for a Lombardi trophy.
“It feels like everybody’s trying to do everything in their power to make me not play football, and I feel like I’m fighting it,” Burrow also said via ESPN. “I’m fighting everybody else. I just want to play ball. That’s all I want to do.”
So for now, Burrow does want to keep playing football, but with all the comments he’s had in the last week, it’s forgivable if someone thought he didn’t want to.
Joe Burrow’s Older Comments Suggested the End was Near
About a week ago, Joe Burrow said via Yahoo! Sports, “I think I’ve been through more than most. And it’s certainly not easy on the brain or the body, so just trying to have fun doing it again.” He talked a lot about performing well and entertaining fans, but it all comes down to being successful, too.
“No, it certainly doesn’t change my desire to win. If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I’ve been through a lot, and if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? So that’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table,” Burrow said.
These comments made it seem like he wasn’t enjoying football as much anymore, and with all the injuries and losing, if he’s also not having fun, he probably shouldn’t be out there.
He later clarified per ESPN, “My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati. My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset and football.” He was also highly critical of his own quality of play, which he says was not good enough to win the game. Still, those comments, especially when combined with Burrow’s situation, are worrisome for his future.
Andrew Luck and Joe Burrow May be Similar
Andrew Luck had a similar career trajectory. He was a truly gifted quarterback, a top prospect who was viewed as the savior of the franchise. Injuries compounded thanks to poor protection (which is almost identical to Burrow’s current situation) until he could handle no more. He retired at 29. Burrow is 29 right now.
The Bengals made the choice in the 2021 NFL Draft to pass on Penei Sewell, a pass-protector who has done a fantastic job protecting Detroit Lions QBs, for Ja’Marr Chase. Chase has opened up Burrow’s passing talent and given him arguably the best target in the entire NFL. He hasn’t protected him from injury, though, and that decision could loom large if Burrow continues to get banged up year after year.
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