Bengals' Joe Burrow receives MVP endorsement ahead of 2026 season

Why will 2026 be different for Joe Burrow?

Burrow has seemed like an obvious contender for MVP, but the reasoning behind Orr's decision this time is difficult to dismiss. Burrow has already proven he can put up MVP-caliber numbers. The biggest obstacles have typically been injuries, a brutal AFC schedule, or a defense that forced Cincinnati into shootouts. 

If the Bengals defense takes a step forward and the favorable schedule plays out as expected, Burrow could finally combine elite production with the team success that MVP voters often look for. For a quarterback who has consistently been in the conversation, 2026 may be the season he finally turns potential into hardware.

This could be the year for both Bengals and Burrow

It is entirely too early to tell if Burrow actually will win the MVP Award, but it is clear why expectations are through the roof in Cincinnati. The former number one overall pick has already ascended into the top tier of quarterbacks in the league and is entering the season with the most help from either side of the football he has seen as a Bengal. 

The stars are aligned for Cincinnati to take advantage of a pretty soft schedule and put together a full season, which would place Burrow at the heart of the MVP race for the entire year. In that situation, Orr's prediction would end up looking less like a scorching hot take and more like the story of a man who saw what was coming before anyone else did.