Carson Palmer forced his way out of Cincinnati in 2011, requesting a trade and threatening to retire rather than play for the Bengals again. At the 2011 trade deadline, the Bengals sent the quarterback to the Raiders.
Some have surmised that Joe Burrow’s time with the team could see a similar exit after the current Bengals quarterback has, at times, expressed frustration with the organization.
He recently made a “now or never” declaration for the 2026 season, again inviting speculation about his future in Cincinnati. Burrow clarified in an exclusive interview with Geoff Hobson of the team website that it was not meant as an ultimatum.
“I’m efficient with my words, and when I’m efficient with my words, that leaves some room for interpretation,” Burrow said. “But I mean what I say. I’m here for the long haul. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just trying to bring a now-or-never mentality to the day-by-day process. If you’re not, what are you doing? Attack the day with a championship mindset. The rest will take care of itself.”
After reaching Super Bowl LVI in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022, the Bengals have missed the postseason in each of the past three years.
The franchise has never won a Super Bowl, and Burrow wants to change.
Burrow grew up in Ohio, graduated from high school in Ohio and began his college career at Ohio State. Playing for the Bengals means more to him than Palmer, a California native, or perhaps any other quarterback to play in Cincinnati.
“I’m just really proud to be quarterback of the Bengals,” Burrow said. “I’m happy to be here. I’m proud to represent the city of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, the Brown family. I’m just proud and I want to make everybody else proud, too.”
