The Cincinnati Bengals have missed the playoffs the last three seasons. Cincinnati missed quarterback Joe Burrow for the majority of the 2025 NFL season with an injury. The Bengals added more pieces on defense this offseason to help this team get back to the playoffs. Burrow has been to a Super Bowl and two AFC title games in his NFL career before.
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Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (89) lifts quarterback Joe Burrow (9) from the turf in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
With that being said, Burrow and the Bengals have to make the playoffs and have sustained success this season. A season ago, they missed the playoffs. If they miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season, there is a good chance that Cincinnati is going to fire head coach Zac Taylor. Not only that, but there would also be major questions about the future of Burrow in Cincinnati as well.
NFL Executive Believes That the Cincinnati Bengals Wouldn’t Trade QB Joe Burrow Even If They Missed the Playoffs Next Season
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) paces between plays in the second quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
One AFC executive spoke to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler about what the future of Burrow with the Bengals could look like if they missed the playoffs once again in 2026. That executive thinks that Cincinnati probably would not trade him and said,
“I just don’t see them ever moving him. I think all of the posturing on his end was to make sure they were doing what they could to make the team better around him. He’s still too young and too good for them to move on.”
Burrow is 29 years old. He can no doubt be good for the next five years or maybe more if he can stay on the field. If they missed the playoffs, the first order of business should be them trying to find a new head coach. Even if he requested out of the Bengals after this season, the team may not grant his request anyways.
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