2026 could be make-or-break for Joe Burrow, Cincinnati

Despite having Joe Burrow, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals have not made the playoffs since the 2022 season. Now, with Burrow turning 30 in December, at least one prominent NFL analyst believes that 2026 may be the end of the road for Burrow in Ohio if his team can’t reach the postseason.

“You have to get into the playoffs. Otherwise, I think there is going to be major changes, and it may start with Joe,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said on NFL Live. “It may start with Joe saying, ‘I’m out of here. Enough of this. If we have all these people and all this talent on paper—which everyone talks about this time of year—and we still can’t make a dent in the [AFC] North’ … then where else do you turn?’ Usually, at that point, it’s time to blow it up.”

Riddick does go on to say that the Bengals have an excellent chance of making the playoffs in 2026 after working hard this offseason to fix the defense. The team signed safety Bryan Cook, traded for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and selected pass rusher Cashius Howell with its first pick (in Round 2) of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Burrow, who grew up about two-and-a-half hours east of Cincy, has been extremely loyal to his hometown franchise, despite making just two playoff appearances with the organization in six seasons. The QB does have three years left on his contract after this year.

If the Bengals do miss the playoffs and Burrow ultimately says, “Enough is enough,” the question then becomes: Would the Bengals be willing to trade him and start over? The franchise has gone to war with its starting quarterback before, with Carson Palmer in 2011. While that was ugly, it also set the table for Cincinnati’s longest consecutive playoff run. After dealing Palmer to the Raiders, the Bengals made the playoffs for six straight seasons.