Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass in the fourth quarter the Cleveland Brownsat Paycor Stadium.
Sam Greene-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Bengals have incredibly high expectations for the 2026 season. Joe Burrow wants to win a Super Bowl and hasn't been shy about talking about that goal. But his recent comments have created a firestorm of speculation about a potential trade.
Bengals insider Paul Dehner Jr. pushed back on the idea of a Burrow trade after his recent “now or never” comments.
“I think the now or never thing has gotten a little too much run,” Dehner Jr. said on Tuesday via The Ross Tucker Podcast. “I mean this is a guy that a couple of months ago, a month ago, right before the end of mandatory minicamp was saying this front office has taken too much heat. They have done an incredible job, they have set us up. It is up to us and the players now.”
Burrow was recently asked if 2026 is a “now or never” year for Cincinnati to win a Super Bowl. He simply replied “that's how I'm treating it.”
Dehner Jr. believes that the media is taking this idea and running too far with it. Especially when assuming Burrow would want out of Cincinnati if the 2026 season doesn't go as planned.
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“I think people want to turn some of the stuff that he's said into like oh they win now or he's out, he's done with this,” Dehner Jr. continued. “Like no, he's just trying to instill urgency inside that locker room. He is trying to keep his foot on the pedal every day for every player, for every coach. … This is about Joe Burrow really leaning into the urgency because he said it very clearly multiple times, he just thinks they're really good. He thinks this team can win a Super Bowl and he's not afraid to say it.”
Meanwhile, the optimism around Cincinnati is quite understandable after upgrading their defense this offseason.
Hopefully the Bengals can finally make a deep playoff run again in 2026.
Next up for the Bengals is their preseason finale against the Eagles on August 28th.