Comments made by Joe Burrow prior to Week 15 fueled a new round of speculation regarding his future. The sixth-year quarterback is not retiring any time soon, and a change in teams (unlikely as that would seem) should also not be expected. 
Burrow will continue playing for the final three games of the season even though the 4-10 Bengals are officially out of playoff contention. The two-time Pro Bowler could have been shut down to ensure he would remain healthy for the start of the 2026 campaign. Instead, Burrow will look to end the year on a high note amidst questions on the matter of his long-term outlook.
“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,” he said (via ESPN’s Ben Baby). “I’m fighting everybody else. I just want to play ball. That’s all I want to do.”
Burrow is under contract through 2029, and his deal contains a no-trade clause. The thought of a swap would generally be a non-starter based on the $55MM AAV of Burrow’s pact, let alone his stated desire to remain in place. The 29-year-old has enjoyed success when healthy at times in his career – highlighted of course be a trip to the Super Bowl in 2021 – but injuries have marred his NFL tenure. Cincinnati is set to miss the playoffs for a third straight season, and it remains to be seen if major organizational changes will be coming.
It appears at this point as though head coach Zac Taylor and de facto general manager Duke Tobin will be safe for next year. Burrow is also in line to continue his Cincinnati tenure, and to no surprise he said he “can’t see” a scenario in which he plays elsewhere next season. The former No. 1 pick added, however, that “a lot of crazy things happen every year” in the NFL with respect to player movement.
Burrow cited this year’s Micah Parsons blockbuster as a recent example of unexpected trades taking place. The LSU product has remained consistent in terms of endorsing Taylor and Tobin, although he replied, “you think about a lot of things” when asked about the possibility of playing for a different team at some point in his career. Questions about a potential Burrow departure could continue beyond 2026 depending on how things play out.
For now, though, Burrow’s attention will be focused on ending the current season without hindering his availability for Week 1 next year. He reiterated his expectation of enjoying a long NFL career, and while the door could be open for a parting of ways down the road that will in all likelihood see him remain in Cincinnati for at least 2026.